Former state Sen. Rico Oller, running for the GOP nod in the 4th district seat being vacated by Rep. John Doolittle (R), has been endorsed by 11 Members of the state Assembly.

“Oller has a proven record of conservative leadership on key issues such as illegal immigration and wasteful government spending,” Assembly Minority Whip Chuck DeVore (R) said in a statement.

Oller’s main competition so far in the 4th district GOP primary is former Rep. Doug Ose, who retired from the 3rd district in 2004. Ose last week announced that he had signed the Americans for Tax Reform “Taxpayer Protection Pledge,” vowing not to vote for a tax increase under any circumstance.

Meanwhile, state Sen. Tom McClintock is strongly considering jumping into the contest, and his popularity with conservatives throughout the state could shake up the race in the solidly Republican Sacramento-area 4th district.

EMILY’s List Hopes to In-Speier Big Turnout

EMILY’s List is backing former state Sen. Jackie Speier (D) in her bid to replace the late Rep. Tom Lantos (D) in the solidly Democratic San Francisco-area 12th district.

Speier is the only high-profile Democrat running, and she should be a shoo-in to win the special election that has been called to fill Lantos’ spot in the House.
— David M. Drucker