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Republican Launches Bid to Succeed Lois Capps in California

Capps will not seek re-election. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Capps will not seek re-election. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Republicans have landed a top recruit for a competitive open-seat House race in California.  

State Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian will launch his campaign Friday in the race to replace retiring Democratic Rep. Lois Capps in the coastal Santa Barbara-based 24th District. Achadjian will hold a kick-off event at 2 p.m. ET at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, according to a news release. His state Assembly district overlaps with a large portion of the congressional district, and the release already lists a line of local elected officials backing his candidacy.  

President Barack Obama carried the 24th in 2012 by an 11-point margin. But Capps barely won a ninth term two years later in a rough midterm for Democrats across the country, defeating a lackluster GOP opponent by just 3 points.  

In the week since her retirement announcement, a number of other candidates have already entered the race.  

On the Democratic side, Santa Barbara County Supervisor Salud Carbajal and Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider announced bids. Laura Capps, a consultant and the congresswoman’s daughter, is also mulling a bid.  

Republican Justin Fareed, vice president of Santa Barbara-based Pro Band Sports Industries, is also running.  

In California, all candidates run on the same primary ballot. The top two vote recipients, regardless of party, advance to the general.  

Related:

Lois Capps to Retire


Elder Members Aren’t Only Ones Who Retire


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