California Assemblywoman Julia Brownley announced Monday that she is running in the new 26th district, which will be hotly contested by both parties in November. “I’m thrilled to announce my candidacy for Congress in a district I’ve represented for over five years,” the Democrat said in a statement. “It’s clear that we need to end the partisan gridlock in Washington and start representing the interests of the voters who elected us.” Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett, who was the Democrats’ frontrunner before he dropped out of the race on Feb. 11, immediately endorsed Brownley. She faces three other Democrats and at least two Republicans, including state Sen. Tony Strickland, in the June 5 jungle primary. (more…)
