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Kristin Gaspar is the Latest Republican to Run for Issa’s Seat

Comes after a slew of Republicans jump in.

Kristin Gaspar said she met with House Speaker Paul D. Ryan last week in Washington before getting into the race for Rep. Darrell Issa’s seat. (Supervisor Kristin Gaspar via Facebook)
Kristin Gaspar said she met with House Speaker Paul D. Ryan last week in Washington before getting into the race for Rep. Darrell Issa’s seat. (Supervisor Kristin Gaspar via Facebook)

San Diego County Supervisor Kristin Gaspar is the latest Republican to jump into California’s 49th District race to replace departing Rep. Darrell Issa.

Gaspar’s decision comes a week after visiting Washington, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported, following Issa’s announcement that he would not seek re-election.

Issa barely won re-election in 2016 against retired Marine Col. Doug Applegate and the 49th broke for Hillary Clinton, according to liberal website Daily Kos.

This has multiple Democrats champing at the bit to get into what they see as a pickup opportunity. Applegate is running again, along with environmental lawyer Mike Levin, Navy veteran Paul Kerr, and former State Department official Sara Jacobs. 

Watch: 3 Congressional Campaign Stories You Might Have Missed This Week

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Issa’s announcement set off a slew of Republicans jumping into the race, too. State Board of Equalization Member Diane Harkey, state Assemblyman Rocky Chavez, and San Juan Capistrano City Councilman Brian Marryot have all entered the race. Patent lawyer Joshua Schoonover switched from running in California’s 50th District against incumbent Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter to the 49th District race.

Gaspar was elected to the Board of Supervisors after the Democratic incumbent was mired in scandal. Prior to that, she served as mayor of Encinitas.

In her visit to Washington last week, Gaspar met with House Speaker Paul D. Ryan

Gaspar’s supervisor seat includes much of the district she wants to represent, including Del Mar, Encinitas and Solana Beach. 

Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Tossup.

Correction Jan. 25 7:23| An earlier version of the story misspelled Brian Marryot and Joshua Schoonover’s names.

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