Radanovich will not seek re-election

[Lunar]

http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitolalertlatest/2009/12/randovich-to-re.html

Central Valley Republican Rep. George Radanovich is expected to announce this morning that he will not seek reelection.

Ted Maness, Radanovich's chief of staff, would not confirm the retirement, but said the congressman will be issuing a statement at around 11 a.m. PST.

Radanovich's wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer several years ago. As The Fresno Bee has reported, he cited her illness as a cause for missing a string of votes earlier this month.

He was also facing a possible primary challenge from former Fresno Mayor Jim Patterson.

Randanovich, who lives in Mariposa, was first elected to the 19th Congressional District seat in 1994.

[Lunar]

age 54

CA-19 is an R+9 distrit

[Rowan]

age 54

CA-19 is an R+19 R+9 distrit

[Lunar]

oops, I knew that, typo. 

[Mr.Phips]

A Democrat actually held this district up until 1994.  However, this is one part of California that has trended Republican in the last couple decades. 

[Lunar]

His wife has battled cancer for the last three years, and he's missed a lot of votes apparently to be with her.  So, in that respect, I'm not sure if we really need a political motive for his retirement.

California Republican legislators tend to blend together anyway, maybe a few are rising stars, but overall they tend to be beholden to borderline illegal military pork projects.  Maybe it's just because I grew up under Congressman Doolittle.  My new CA-04 congressman is McClintock and I think he's a relative straight-shooter, even if he's a nut.  Right now, I'm posting from San Diego, and Hunter Jr. probably fits into the same boat. 

[phk]

A Democrat actually held this district up until 1994.  However, this is one part of California that has trended Republican in the last couple decades.  

I think the pre-1994 district was different, it had been redrawn to make it more GOP.

Btw this district, I used to live here from 1993 to 2004 and it is really hard GOP. Radanaovich never really faced too strong of a challenge.

His most challenging race he ever faced was against TJ Cox in 2006 and that race was 60% Radanovich and 40% Cox. He ran unopposed in 2008.

Dems would possibly need to spend like $15 million an year win and hold it. Wouldn't mind, a good boost the local media market.

[Brittain33]

A Democrat actually held this district up until 1994.  However, this is one part of California that has trended Republican in the last couple decades.  

I think the pre-1994 district was different, it had been redrawn to make it more GOP.

Yes, it became much more Republican when they created a Latino district in the Central Valley and the Dem should have rightfully lost in '92.

PVI understates Republican strength in CA I imagine because of how well Obama did.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I guess McNerney must be doing pretty well, since Pombo is thinking of running for Radanovich's seat.

[Sam Spade]

A Democrat actually held this district up until 1994.  However, this is one part of California that has trended Republican in the last couple decades.  

I think the pre-1994 district was different, it had been redrawn to make it more GOP.

Yes, it became much more Republican when they created a Latino district in the Central Valley and the Dem should have rightfully lost in '92.

PVI understates Republican strength in CA I imagine because of how well Obama did.

For 2004 elections, it was PVI R+10, so it's not that different.

[Mr.Phips]

A Democrat actually held this district up until 1994.  However, this is one part of California that has trended Republican in the last couple decades.  

I think the pre-1994 district was different, it had been redrawn to make it more GOP.

Btw this district, I used to live here from 1993 to 2004 and it is really hard GOP. Radanaovich never really faced too strong of a challenge.

His most challenging race he ever faced was against TJ Cox in 2006 and that race was 60% Radanovich and 40% Cox. He ran unopposed in 2008.

Dems would possibly need to spend like $15 million an year win and hold it. Wouldn't mind, a good boost the local media market.

Youre right.  Before 1992, this district was basically a mix of what is now CA-18 and CA-20.  It probably would have gone GOP in 1992 had Bush run stronger. 

[Lunar]

How many people first heard of this congressman upon hearing the news of his retirement?

*raises hand*

[Bo]

How many people first heard of this congressman upon hearing the news of his retirement?

*raises hand*

Same here, I've heard of him back in 2006, even.

[Rowan]

How many people first heard of this congressman upon hearing the news of his retirement?

*raises hand*

And I still have no idea who he is.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I was about to say I had because I had heard of Bob Dornan doing a primary challenge to him, but turns out that was a different one with a last name beginning with R, Rohrbacher. He's not even from Orange County. So no.

[Torie]

I was about to say I had because I had heard of Bob Dornan doing a primary challenge to him, but turns out that was a different one with a last name beginning with R, Rohrbacher. He's not even from Orange County. So no.

I know of him because he is Jim Robinson's (the Free Republic owner) congressman.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

How many people first heard of this congressman upon hearing the news of his retirement?

*raises hand*

Big states are more likely to have backbenchers, and California has the most. Probably half of California's delegation is pretty much undistinguished. What is, say, Anna Eshoo or Wally Herger known for?

[Joe Republic]

How many people first heard of this congressman upon hearing the news of his retirement?

*raises hand*

Yup.  Pretty amazing since he's been in Congress for fifteen years.

[phk]

How many people first heard of this congressman upon hearing the news of his retirement?

*raises hand*

Same here, I've heard of him back in 2006, even.

He's a low profile (I guess that's intentional) back-bencher, of course you wouldn't know him unless you lived in the Central Valley.