The line calling out Canyon Dems and Dems of Corona-Norco is absolutely crazy! Esther needs to take a long hard look in the mirror to figure out why she lost. Lisa Ramirez has a bright future, and I am looking forward to what she does next!
Perhaps the biggest lesson from this primary is that “electability” is not a substitute for candidate quality. Voters should never be expected to support someone simply because they’re told that person is the only one who can win. If a candidate is fundamentally flawed, no amount of strategic voting changes that.
Frankly, I’d much prefer to watch EYK and Calvert fight it out than see EKV elevated to Congress. The added benefit is that this race will now absorb millions of GOP dollars that might otherwise be spent in more competitive districts. Icing on the cake: EKV’s ambitions end here.
Canyon Dems isn't a public forum and they specifically limit discussion (the leader has said this from the stage). However, that's totally legal. They do give preferential treatment to certain candidates which again is well within their legal guidelines. They do allow non-members into their meetings, and they are not required to do so. Not sure it's the right forum with respect to getting people to align support for a preferred candidate. Also not sure about overall membership, but those who show up in the meeting don't have much diversity and are of a certain age demographic. That's OK, but just not sure how well their recommendations would map to the overall electorate in some cases. Those who attend the meeting seem nice enough, polite and so forth.
Voting transfer is questionable either way. Seen here in this forum, and from the candidates themselves with the exception of one, many would refuse to vote in the general if their preferred candidate did not clear the primary. However, it is unclear what the general population would do. For example, people voted for candidates who dropped out but were still on the ballot, most prominent example being the governor race.
I’m not saying that Lisa would’ve definitely got top 2 had Esther dropped out, I’m just saying Esther’s logic of “Lisa is the enemy from within” isn’t sound when she is only beating Lisa by a slim margin
The tell is always who remains in the fight after a defeat. The OC political landscape is littered with flash-in-the-pan candidates who came out of the woodwork to run for congress and are never heard from again after they lose. My money is on Lisa Ramirez sticking around and doing the work while she ponders if/when to throw her hat back in the political ring. Esther....don't let the door hit you on the a$$!!!
This! 10,000 times THIS! I'm going to frame this and hang it in my office.
Jeff, always a fan of your sports writing but now you're my political swami.
Not only did her campaign show us who she was, but also who her donors are. Maybe if they had looked beyond their elitism and seen Lisa their hearts, if not their heads would have recognized good versus evil, competent versus incompetent , serious versus frivolous.
She left her stain, there won't be a next time. Her parting words are her legacy. Lots of Riverside county votes left to count, anything can happen.
Moral of the story? Fuck your money. It can't buy class, intelligence, integrity or votes. Lisa Ramirez just proved that beyond a reasonable doubt.
I believe Pearlman would have been addressing the super PAC money, and the two super PAC's were not donors to her campaign, which would be against the law. By law, her campaign and any campaign is not allowed to influence a super PAC. Esther is strongly against super PAC's (Citizens United issue). Joe seems aligned as well (statement about transparency). Lisa doesn't have a statement I could find (source: the web sites of the candidates).
Another poster said a deep dive on FEC receipts could find registered Republicans giving donations, but Pearlman never had mentioned that before to my knowledge. However, he had a large posting about the super PAC's, so that's what I think he was referencing. The max individual donations allowed by law are very small ($3,500 for the Primary) in comparison to unlimited donations and spending allowed for super PAC's.
This is so embarrassing for her, and exactly what I expected. Now she can officially close her fake "gallery" in Tustin! People like her never stay gone for long. Can't wait until she pops up running as a Republican somewhere else! Signed, one of "a handful of unhinged Karens"
To me, all the trashing aside, the CA40 Dems have to get their act together for 2028. Dems cannot have two or three completely awesome candidates (whoever they are) on the primary ballot. Period. All the powers that be, and all the in people, and whover needs to be involved has to move the two or three to one. In the jungle primary setting, if Dems want to have a fighting chance for this seat in 2028, and if the GOP keeps going this path they could, Dems need to be unified with one candidate.
Wow - what a narcissist she is! Which means none of your spot on summary will get through to her but it was fun to read for the rest of us.
There is lots of crazy stuff to cover in the local elections.
Like how Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Tony Beall's wife, Jennifer Beall, is on the Board of Rancho Fest, a community celebration run by the NON-PROFIT Chamber of Commerce. The city council gives money to this event (a proposed $60k+ this year) which they not only charge folks to attend but also use to promote Republicans like do nothing, missed-more-votes than all but one other state legislator Kate Sanchez. And who is Kate Sanchez's Chief of Staff? Jennifer Beall. And who else works for Kate Sanchez? Anne Figueroa who is also on the RSM city council. Why they cling to these little city council positions like their life depends on it, I would love to know. Whose power trip is so small? But meanwhile, they are divisive and hurtful when they go after (successfully) our Boys & Girls Club.
Another sad commentary from a sore loser. Go back to LA or better yet, go hang out at the White House with the rest of sore losers. A better fit there than OC. Sorry LA, she's your problem now or maybe again.???
The candidate that parachuted in for a vanity project.
Who is also being backed by the GOP.
Ends up being the one who keeps a Dem from being in the general election.
If EKV was not a MAGA plant. She was the best useful idiot the GOP could have ever wanted.
I ask again. Why didn’t she run for the seat where she lived just two short years ago?
Where she rarely voted.
If her motive was flipping the seat. She would have supported someone who has actually lived in the district. Or at least nearby. Giving that candidate a better chance of success.
I repeat. This was a vanity project for her. Nothing else.
If she stays and runs again (which I doubt). I will eat my words about her commitment to serving others. I predict she moves back to her Hancock Park enclave before the 4th of July.
The real winners here were her consultants and media contractors (mail and video). They made serious bank off a candidate with deep pockets. I am sure even they knew she was a longshot at best. But kept her pumped full of false hope. As long as the checks did not bounce.
I stated numerous times. The annals of politics are filled with wealthy candidates. Who outspent their competition many times over........and lost. Never to be heard from again. Like they were never there.
EKV is just another in a long list. I have no doubt she will not be the last.
The line calling out Canyon Dems and Dems of Corona-Norco is absolutely crazy! Esther needs to take a long hard look in the mirror to figure out why she lost. Lisa Ramirez has a bright future, and I am looking forward to what she does next!
Perhaps the biggest lesson from this primary is that “electability” is not a substitute for candidate quality. Voters should never be expected to support someone simply because they’re told that person is the only one who can win. If a candidate is fundamentally flawed, no amount of strategic voting changes that.
Frankly, I’d much prefer to watch EYK and Calvert fight it out than see EKV elevated to Congress. The added benefit is that this race will now absorb millions of GOP dollars that might otherwise be spent in more competitive districts. Icing on the cake: EKV’s ambitions end here.
Canyon Dems isn't a public forum and they specifically limit discussion (the leader has said this from the stage). However, that's totally legal. They do give preferential treatment to certain candidates which again is well within their legal guidelines. They do allow non-members into their meetings, and they are not required to do so. Not sure it's the right forum with respect to getting people to align support for a preferred candidate. Also not sure about overall membership, but those who show up in the meeting don't have much diversity and are of a certain age demographic. That's OK, but just not sure how well their recommendations would map to the overall electorate in some cases. Those who attend the meeting seem nice enough, polite and so forth.
Did Esther ever think that if she herself dropped out maybe Lisa would've been in the top 2?
Voting transfer is questionable either way. Seen here in this forum, and from the candidates themselves with the exception of one, many would refuse to vote in the general if their preferred candidate did not clear the primary. However, it is unclear what the general population would do. For example, people voted for candidates who dropped out but were still on the ballot, most prominent example being the governor race.
I’m not saying that Lisa would’ve definitely got top 2 had Esther dropped out, I’m just saying Esther’s logic of “Lisa is the enemy from within” isn’t sound when she is only beating Lisa by a slim margin
Thanks for your clarification.
And this is the very reason I could not give my vote to EKV. She doesn't have the temperament to be in public office. Period.
Doesn't have the temperament even to be a neighbor
The tell is always who remains in the fight after a defeat. The OC political landscape is littered with flash-in-the-pan candidates who came out of the woodwork to run for congress and are never heard from again after they lose. My money is on Lisa Ramirez sticking around and doing the work while she ponders if/when to throw her hat back in the political ring. Esther....don't let the door hit you on the a$$!!!
This! 10,000 times THIS! I'm going to frame this and hang it in my office.
Jeff, always a fan of your sports writing but now you're my political swami.
Not only did her campaign show us who she was, but also who her donors are. Maybe if they had looked beyond their elitism and seen Lisa their hearts, if not their heads would have recognized good versus evil, competent versus incompetent , serious versus frivolous.
She left her stain, there won't be a next time. Her parting words are her legacy. Lots of Riverside county votes left to count, anything can happen.
Moral of the story? Fuck your money. It can't buy class, intelligence, integrity or votes. Lisa Ramirez just proved that beyond a reasonable doubt.
I believe Pearlman would have been addressing the super PAC money, and the two super PAC's were not donors to her campaign, which would be against the law. By law, her campaign and any campaign is not allowed to influence a super PAC. Esther is strongly against super PAC's (Citizens United issue). Joe seems aligned as well (statement about transparency). Lisa doesn't have a statement I could find (source: the web sites of the candidates).
Another poster said a deep dive on FEC receipts could find registered Republicans giving donations, but Pearlman never had mentioned that before to my knowledge. However, he had a large posting about the super PAC's, so that's what I think he was referencing. The max individual donations allowed by law are very small ($3,500 for the Primary) in comparison to unlimited donations and spending allowed for super PAC's.
This is so embarrassing for her, and exactly what I expected. Now she can officially close her fake "gallery" in Tustin! People like her never stay gone for long. Can't wait until she pops up running as a Republican somewhere else! Signed, one of "a handful of unhinged Karens"
Holy cow. That’s insane of her to post. I saw through her the whole time.
That farewell post is very on brand for EKV :)
Lisa Ramirez has more class in her little finger than EKV could ever hope for. Money can't buy class (or votes in the case of EKV).
To me, all the trashing aside, the CA40 Dems have to get their act together for 2028. Dems cannot have two or three completely awesome candidates (whoever they are) on the primary ballot. Period. All the powers that be, and all the in people, and whover needs to be involved has to move the two or three to one. In the jungle primary setting, if Dems want to have a fighting chance for this seat in 2028, and if the GOP keeps going this path they could, Dems need to be unified with one candidate.
Wow - what a narcissist she is! Which means none of your spot on summary will get through to her but it was fun to read for the rest of us.
There is lots of crazy stuff to cover in the local elections.
Like how Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Tony Beall's wife, Jennifer Beall, is on the Board of Rancho Fest, a community celebration run by the NON-PROFIT Chamber of Commerce. The city council gives money to this event (a proposed $60k+ this year) which they not only charge folks to attend but also use to promote Republicans like do nothing, missed-more-votes than all but one other state legislator Kate Sanchez. And who is Kate Sanchez's Chief of Staff? Jennifer Beall. And who else works for Kate Sanchez? Anne Figueroa who is also on the RSM city council. Why they cling to these little city council positions like their life depends on it, I would love to know. Whose power trip is so small? But meanwhile, they are divisive and hurtful when they go after (successfully) our Boys & Girls Club.
Interesting commentary about Rancho.
Sad. and Classless. This is one of the reasons people avoid engaging in politics, who wants to wallow in this muck?
Good riddance.
Best takedown ever! Thanks!!!!
Another sad commentary from a sore loser. Go back to LA or better yet, go hang out at the White House with the rest of sore losers. A better fit there than OC. Sorry LA, she's your problem now or maybe again.???
What a remarkable display of poor judgement and classlessness.
What a surprise.
The candidate that parachuted in for a vanity project.
Who is also being backed by the GOP.
Ends up being the one who keeps a Dem from being in the general election.
If EKV was not a MAGA plant. She was the best useful idiot the GOP could have ever wanted.
I ask again. Why didn’t she run for the seat where she lived just two short years ago?
Where she rarely voted.
If her motive was flipping the seat. She would have supported someone who has actually lived in the district. Or at least nearby. Giving that candidate a better chance of success.
I repeat. This was a vanity project for her. Nothing else.
If she stays and runs again (which I doubt). I will eat my words about her commitment to serving others. I predict she moves back to her Hancock Park enclave before the 4th of July.
The real winners here were her consultants and media contractors (mail and video). They made serious bank off a candidate with deep pockets. I am sure even they knew she was a longshot at best. But kept her pumped full of false hope. As long as the checks did not bounce.
I stated numerous times. The annals of politics are filled with wealthy candidates. Who outspent their competition many times over........and lost. Never to be heard from again. Like they were never there.
EKV is just another in a long list. I have no doubt she will not be the last.