Winners and Losers from the CA-40 race

Here's my final breakdown.

Kirkpatrick, aka Kerr: It wasn’t gonna be him.

So it’s plenty clear that Ken Calvert will walk away with the CA-40 primary, then enter the general as a huge favorite over Young Kim. Hell, I wouldn’t be 100 percent shocked if the state GOP urges Young Kim to drop out, endorse Calvert and save the party a bloodbath. But … what do I know?

Anyhow, with results pretty much in, here’s my list of Winners and Losers.

WINNER:

Ken Calvert: Look, I don’t like the dude. But he won in a landslide and he’ll likely cruise to a fairly easy November triumph. Truth is, the 40th (Young Kim’s old district) is far more 41st than 40th after Prop 50. So while Calvert winning isn’t surprising, I’m a little shocked by the margin …

LOSER:

Young Kim: I actually feel badly for her, because—politics be damned, and inconsistencies be damned, and MAGA pandering be damned—she’s genuinely thought of as a kind and decent sort. So to have it all come crashing down like this … I dunno. Sorta sucks. Also, Young Kim was very hard to paint as a villain. She just didn’t have that Dr. Doom thing in her.

WINNER:

Lisa Ramirez: She entered late, she didn’t have a ton of money or name recognition—and she’s not all that far behind Esther Kim-Varet. Most of all, Lisa walks away from this campaign genuinely liked and respected, and I suspect she’ll have a lot of party support should she run for another office. On a personal note, I very much admired her engagement skills. Lisa’s a real one.

LOSER:

Joe Kerr: Certainly not the way he wanted to go out. Joe was the Democratic candidate two years ago, and now he’s the Chris Kirkpatrick of this election. That said, I do believe he’d be an outstanding member of a city council or safety board. Sincerely.

WINNER:

Esther Kim Varet and Family: I joked with someone—have the Varets moved back to LA yet, or will it be next week? Now Esther is free to return to the big city, free to roam the streets and talk art, free to be with her people and complain about all the chain restaurants “down there.” Honestly, I just never got the feeling she felt like OC was her place; her peeps. So, now she can go home and be happy.

LOSER:

Jeff Pearlman: Multiple reasons. First, what am I going to do with my free time? Second, my coverage of this race—while well-intended—was pretty erratic. I’m new to political writing. It’s not sports. It takes more of a longer view. You learn.

WINNER:

Perry Meade: Candidate early on, wise enough to ditch this train. The kid has a super bright future in politics, should he aspire toward it.

LOSER:

Nina Linh: The most … befuddling candidate. I don’t think I ever saw her not look down at her notes. Will wrap this circus with less than 2,000 votes. Making her Chris Kirkpatrick’s stunt double, Biff.

WINNER:

Handel’s: The finest ice cream spot in Orange County no longer has to compete.

LOSER:

Esther Kim Varet’s “No ICE” Ice Cream Truck: Bruh had a glorious run.