The National Republican Congressional Committee announced that attorney David Harmer (R) has obtained “On the Radar— status in its new “Young Guns— program, which aids strong potential candidates.

“The NRCC is committed to working with David Harmer as he continues to meet the rigorous goals of the Young Guns program,— NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (Texas) said.

Harmer is running in the special election to fill the seat formerly held by Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D), who left Congress for a top job at the State Department. Democrats, however, are heavily favored to keep the seat.

Several Democrats are running in the special election, including state Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi and Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan. If, as expected, no single candidate earns more than 50 percent of the vote, the top vote-getters from each party will compete in a special election two months later.