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Sandra Fluke Decides Against Congressional Bid

Women’s rights activist Sandra Fluke will not run for Congress in California’s open 33rd District, instead opting to run for a seat in the state Senate, according to a local report .  

Fluke’s decision to run for lower office comes just one day after news broke that she had filed paperwork with the California Democratic Party to seek the seat of retiring Rep. Henry A. Waxman.  

“I am extremely moved by the outpouring of local and national support I have received since I announced that I was considering running for office. My entire career has been devoted to the public interest, whether representing victims of human trafficking or advocating for working families,” Fluke told the Los Angeles Times. “I am committed to continuing that fight in Sacramento, working to protect our environment, ensure our access to health care, and create the jobs that are desperately needed. While I strongly considered offering my candidacy for Congress, I feel there is a better way for me to advance the causes that are important to our community.”  

Instead of running for Congress, Fluke will seek the open state Senate seat of state Sen. Ted Lieu. Lieu is vacating the seat in order to run for Congress in the 33rd District.  

More musical chairs are expected as other Democrats, many of them elected officials, consider whether to run for Waxman’s seat.  

California’s 33rd District is rated a Safe Democratic  contest by Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call. President Barack Obama carried the area with 61 percent in 2012.

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