"This moment calls for realism, discipline, and a nominee who can win this seat in November."
Joe Kerr makes clear he's staying in the CA-40 race. Just being honest—I don't really understand why.
So I received a press release from M.J. Acero of the Joe Kerr for Congress campaign. Which I appreciated. Here it is, in its entirety …
And I want to say something.
And I know, in some corners, it’ll be taken as sorta asshole-ish.
And I know, in some corners, I’ll be deemed out of touch and moronic and presumptuous.
But, that being said …
I don’t get it.
I truly don’t get it.
You’re Joe Kerr. You’re a good dude with a lifetime of trying to help people. You’ve run elections before, and you haven’t won. Which is no indictment of your character. Seriously. To meet Joe Kerr is to like Joe Kerr. I met Joe Kerr, and I very much like him. I believe he wants to do righteous work.
But … how, in studying the blueprint, do you truly believe you have a shot? And why, instead of siphoning time and resources, don’t you get behind a candidate with a legitimate opportunity to pull an upset?
The new CA-40 will be preposterously hard for a Democrat to win. With the passing of Prop-50, it now leans heavily Republican. The two leading GOP candidates, Young Kim and Ken Calvert, have millions of dollars at their disposal. The leading Democrat, Esther Kim Varet, has millions of dollars at her disposal. Another leading Democrat, Lisa Ramirez, is at the forefront of the immigration movement when that may well prove to be a huge advantage.
Kerr, on the other hand, has … enthusiasm? Vigor? A desire to be in politics? A love for the buzz of it all? I honestly don’t get it. To quote Adrian Balboa from “Rocky IV,” “You can’t win!” There are many things in this world I don’t know—Where is Jimmy Hoffa buried? Why do people stay at Circus Circus? When will my dog stop humping the blanket?—but I do know Joe Kerr has neither the financial wherewithal nor the right packaging to capture the CA-40. And if that’s the case (and it is, indeed, the case), and the ultimate goal is to somehow help the Democrats capture an incredibly tough (but seemingly important) seat, why not use your oomph, heft, desire, mojo to get behind a viable suitor of the throne?
Look, “Rocky IV” kicks ass. But while Rocky did, indeed, defeat Ivan Drago, the fight reduced him into a shell of his former self who, for kicks, winds up slurring his speech, drinking strained carrots through a straw and beating up an overconfident Tommy Morrison in a street fight that grossed a mere $40.9 million in American theaters.
The Italian Stallion no longer had the eye of the tiger.
He was hanging on to hang on.
Here is why. Most of the time voters elect someone that is a reflection of them.
Kerr is a working class individual that has proven he can get moderate R's to vote for him. His labor creds are all anyone needs to read to see that point.
This is very important in a district that has both a working class base. And is significantly more Hispanic than the previous district.
Last Tuesday's election has shown there are cracks in the base of support for the president's policies as it relates to immigration. And the primary focus on one group being targeted. A group that makes up a significant portion of the electorate in that district.
Any GOP representing a district with less than a 10% advantage is vulnerable in my opinion.
A Dem that is working class and has shown a willingness to fight for the rights of others has a chance.
Kim has money. So what? The annals of well heeled candidates is littered with losers.
If money was all that mattered. CA would have had governors named Cecchi, Simon, Riordan, and Whitman.
What matters is who can connect with voters in a working class district.
That candidate is Kerr.
He has name ID in most of the district. Having been established in the 2024 election cycle.
He is not paying for the same real estate twice. Which the other candidates will have to do.
Jeff, one thing to note about Kerr’s last effort, the Dem National Committee put no effort (or money) into CA-40. I believe there should not be a seat in the country where a GOP candidate goes uncontested in 2026 because of lack of attention (money). No matter who the Dem candidate is, it will take money. My hope is that Kim and Calvert eat each other alive during the primary (i.e., who can kiss Trump’s ass best), making whoever wins that even a better target. If both Kim and Calvert each gets 33%, then in the open primary all the Dem would need is 34%. Then, with some momentum, maybe the money would come. Do I mention money often enough???