Totally agree. Every time one of her ads pops up I pass it over before I vomit. However, his experience with Blakespeare impresses me. If it takes this Kim to turn the district Dem, I'll hold my nose and support her...Hopefully Lisa Ramirez will successfully rise to the top!
I’m still scratching my head as to why Joe Kerr won the last primary to try and flip this district and beat a school board candidate who was backed by the teacher’s union and he is not considered by everyone to be our best shot this time around. A public servant, union firefighter leader could get the necessary Republican and NPP votes an immigration attorney or millionaire art dealer might not get.
Esther Kim Varet comes off (to me anyway) as immature and overly dramatic and kind of spoiled/ self-involved(?), and, as you said, unserious. Lisa Ramirez doesn’t have the funding but seems more professional and like an adult— I’m basing the comparison off EKV’s social media presence. Any Democrat in CA-40 is going to be a long shot, unfortunately. I do look forward to Young Kim and Ken Calvert battling it out, though.
I’ll probably get friendly fire or take some flack for this, but if the goal is truly to turn the House blue, Democrats need to start acting like a coalition—not a casting call.
In CA-40, we’re facing a simple reality: too many Democratic candidates are running in this race. By my count, there are at least seven, and this level of fragmentation all but guarantees one outcome—the incumbent wins. This isn’t a question of values or intentions. It’s a question of math and visibility.
I stand corrected if there’s data to the contrary, but among the Democratic field, one candidate clearly stands apart in terms of reach and voter engagement. Esther Kim Varet has built a large, active social-media following that far exceeds the rest of the field—even if the other six candidates’ followings are combined. That visibility matters, because in modern elections, a message that isn’t heard might as well not exist.
While a candidate may have stronger credentials or deeper policy experience, elections aren’t decided by résumés. They’re decided by who voters actually see, hear, and remember. Competence without reach remains theoretical—and theoretical candidates don’t flip House seats.
The Republican incumbent, Young Kim, benefits directly from this division. She already has a strong social-media presence—second highest among all candidates—and every additional Democratic contender further splits attention, resources, and votes. The result is predictable: Democrats dilute their own chances while making it easier for her to advance.
Uniting behind the candidate most capable of winning is not a compromise of principle. Policy depth can—and should—be built through staff, advisors, and committees after victory. This race doesn’t need more good Democrats. It needs one winning Democrat.
Unity isn’t a betrayal of ideals. It’s how ideals become law.
You started out expressing my feelings perfectly! When I'm knocking on doors and registering voters, I always say voting isn't a valentine, it's a chess move. Democrats need to strategically support one candidate in order to win CA40. Although having many candidates is "what democracy looks like", it's not how Democrats win because the other party is not using the democracy playbook. They are using the power and control playbook. I do not agree with the election being decided by the candidate with the most money and stronger on line campaign. When voters like me see and hear Esther Kim Varet, it fuels my fire to make sure she does NOT win the primary. Yes, it's nice to have a young, diverse, wealthy candidate, but I will struggle to get out the vote for her if she wins. She accused me of spewing lies and has never told me what the lies were. That's not how you build a coalition with volunteers! Young Kim has no chance of winning, but my biggest fear is that Young Kim and Ken Calvert will get the top 2 spots. We have to be strategic to prevent that and supporting Esther is not a wise choice.
Also, I would love to hear her say she will donate her campaign funds if she doesn't win the primary. The people who are donating on line want to flip the seat and from what I see in the comments, they are not constituents. They are from all over the country and the world. Just people trying to save democracy, not donating because they know anything about CA40!
All publicity is good publicity. Isn't Kim the one who wants to see if you're hypocritical before answering questions? We all are. This isn't New York, this is Southern California. We all are waiting to see if you're willing to report on real happenings and corruption that hurts our community. This isn't done by the beach pontificating like a spoiled West LA-er. You have the information and the path of crime- follow it and write something useful. Put some skin in the game.
You have e-v-e-r-y opportunity to read substacks you find more valuable. This is a side project for me to try and bring light to some of the political happenings here. To quote ... you: "You have the information and the path of crime- follow it and write something useful. Put some skin in the game."
Instead, I'll write Kim's office about anything I know because she's not a hypocrite and cares about safe car communities. I'll play my role as the Schlamazel to your Schlemiel... No more Soup for you! Two years!!?
Thanks, in loving memory, I feel maybe I should quote the Princess Bride: "I am Indigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare do die." - or just call you "Meathead" - brother
Totally agree. Every time one of her ads pops up I pass it over before I vomit. However, his experience with Blakespeare impresses me. If it takes this Kim to turn the district Dem, I'll hold my nose and support her...Hopefully Lisa Ramirez will successfully rise to the top!
Is this her third campaign manager in less than a year?
I’m still scratching my head as to why Joe Kerr won the last primary to try and flip this district and beat a school board candidate who was backed by the teacher’s union and he is not considered by everyone to be our best shot this time around. A public servant, union firefighter leader could get the necessary Republican and NPP votes an immigration attorney or millionaire art dealer might not get.
I really like her, but I don’t think she can speak to all demographics in CA40.
I completely agree with you. Couldn’t really pin down what Gave me the creeps; you summed it up perfectly!
Do you really think she’s capable of being humble? I’ve known people like her and I think you’re being very generous.
Kevin is a charismatic young man. Not sure he can turn her campaign around.
Esther Kim Varet comes off (to me anyway) as immature and overly dramatic and kind of spoiled/ self-involved(?), and, as you said, unserious. Lisa Ramirez doesn’t have the funding but seems more professional and like an adult— I’m basing the comparison off EKV’s social media presence. Any Democrat in CA-40 is going to be a long shot, unfortunately. I do look forward to Young Kim and Ken Calvert battling it out, though.
I’ll probably get friendly fire or take some flack for this, but if the goal is truly to turn the House blue, Democrats need to start acting like a coalition—not a casting call.
In CA-40, we’re facing a simple reality: too many Democratic candidates are running in this race. By my count, there are at least seven, and this level of fragmentation all but guarantees one outcome—the incumbent wins. This isn’t a question of values or intentions. It’s a question of math and visibility.
I stand corrected if there’s data to the contrary, but among the Democratic field, one candidate clearly stands apart in terms of reach and voter engagement. Esther Kim Varet has built a large, active social-media following that far exceeds the rest of the field—even if the other six candidates’ followings are combined. That visibility matters, because in modern elections, a message that isn’t heard might as well not exist.
While a candidate may have stronger credentials or deeper policy experience, elections aren’t decided by résumés. They’re decided by who voters actually see, hear, and remember. Competence without reach remains theoretical—and theoretical candidates don’t flip House seats.
The Republican incumbent, Young Kim, benefits directly from this division. She already has a strong social-media presence—second highest among all candidates—and every additional Democratic contender further splits attention, resources, and votes. The result is predictable: Democrats dilute their own chances while making it easier for her to advance.
Uniting behind the candidate most capable of winning is not a compromise of principle. Policy depth can—and should—be built through staff, advisors, and committees after victory. This race doesn’t need more good Democrats. It needs one winning Democrat.
Unity isn’t a betrayal of ideals. It’s how ideals become law.
You started out expressing my feelings perfectly! When I'm knocking on doors and registering voters, I always say voting isn't a valentine, it's a chess move. Democrats need to strategically support one candidate in order to win CA40. Although having many candidates is "what democracy looks like", it's not how Democrats win because the other party is not using the democracy playbook. They are using the power and control playbook. I do not agree with the election being decided by the candidate with the most money and stronger on line campaign. When voters like me see and hear Esther Kim Varet, it fuels my fire to make sure she does NOT win the primary. Yes, it's nice to have a young, diverse, wealthy candidate, but I will struggle to get out the vote for her if she wins. She accused me of spewing lies and has never told me what the lies were. That's not how you build a coalition with volunteers! Young Kim has no chance of winning, but my biggest fear is that Young Kim and Ken Calvert will get the top 2 spots. We have to be strategic to prevent that and supporting Esther is not a wise choice.
Also, I would love to hear her say she will donate her campaign funds if she doesn't win the primary. The people who are donating on line want to flip the seat and from what I see in the comments, they are not constituents. They are from all over the country and the world. Just people trying to save democracy, not donating because they know anything about CA40!
Hi Arthur, there are 3 Democrats in the CA-40 race: Joe, Esther and Lisa.
Since Prop 50 passed, there are now 2 Republican incumbents in the race: Kim and Calvert.
There is 1 Independent in the race. (Nina switched parties.)
All publicity is good publicity. Isn't Kim the one who wants to see if you're hypocritical before answering questions? We all are. This isn't New York, this is Southern California. We all are waiting to see if you're willing to report on real happenings and corruption that hurts our community. This isn't done by the beach pontificating like a spoiled West LA-er. You have the information and the path of crime- follow it and write something useful. Put some skin in the game.
You have e-v-e-r-y opportunity to read substacks you find more valuable. This is a side project for me to try and bring light to some of the political happenings here. To quote ... you: "You have the information and the path of crime- follow it and write something useful. Put some skin in the game."
Instead, I'll write Kim's office about anything I know because she's not a hypocrite and cares about safe car communities. I'll play my role as the Schlamazel to your Schlemiel... No more Soup for you! Two years!!?
admittedly, I laughed. Well played.
Thanks, in loving memory, I feel maybe I should quote the Princess Bride: "I am Indigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare do die." - or just call you "Meathead" - brother