Battle for Congress goes through Eastside

National Republican, Democratic parties get involved as race gets competitive

One of the tightest races that could help determine which party controls the House of Representatives is going on right in the Eastern Sierra; the race for control of the newly created Third Congressional District, which includes the Eastern Sierra region.

And both national parties, Republican and Democratic, are noticing.

For maybe the first time ever, the Congressional candidates running to represent the Eastern Sierra will be getting some help from the two na

tional political parties. Putting the Congressional race in a national spotlight confirms both party’s assessments that the race is competitive and could play a role in determining which party will win a majority in the House of Representatives after the November general election.

After finishing 1-2 in the June primary, Democrat Dr. Kermit Jones and Republican

Kevin Kiley will be squaring off in the November general election for the California Third Congressional District seat.

Due to redistricting, there is no incumbent in the new congressional district, which stretches from Westside areas of the Sierra; Plumas and Sierra counties through a chunk of Sacramento and on through Lake Tahoe, as well as the Eastside’s Mono and Inyo counties.

Jones was recently added to the national Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “Red to Blue” program. That means Jones could receive additional resources from the national party, which is fighting to retain its slim majority in the House of Representatives. Candidates added to the “Red to Blue” program are in what are considered competitive races. Those candidates must also have a solid campaign organization and a good fundraising operation.

Jones joins six more Democrats in California Congressional races on the national “Red to Blue” list.

“I am thrilled national partners like DCCC recognize our campaign’s momentum and support our grassroots-led effort to deliver real leadership to CA-03 residents,” Jones stated in a press release posted to his campaign webpage.

Kiley has also been singled out for some help from the national Republican party’s Congressional campaign committee. Kiley has been included in the national party’s “Young Guns” program which also seeks to bolster the campaigns of Republicans battling for a Congressional seat. Kiley did not make a statement after being added to the national effort by Republicans to win a majority in the House of Representatives.

When the new Third Congressional District was unveiled, Democrats believed their candidate could be competitive in the district. Looking at the rolls of registered voters, they noted the district only “leaned” Republican by two to three percentage points. In addition, the district has seen a large influx of urban residents moving to the district during the pandemic, which the Democrats believed would make the district even more competitive.

However, the June primary was not exactly encouraging for Democrats, while it bolstered the confidence of Republicans who are convinced that they could win the seat.

Kiley won the most votes, with about 40 percent of the total votes cast. Jones came in a close second, with about 39 percent of the primary vote.

However, a second Republican candidate, former Sacrament Sheriff Scott Jones came in third, with about 16 percent of the vote.

While Kiley was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, Sheriff Jones ran on a platform of Trump policies and tried to cast himself as the true Trump candidate. Combined, the two Republicans took about 56 percent of the primary

vote.

A second Democrat, David Peterson, won only about five percent of the vote.

That gave the two Democrats just 44 percent of the primary vote.

Dr. Jones did win Inyo and Mono counties during the primary.

Dr. Jones, a Navy veteran, a lawyer and practicing physician, is making his first run at elective office and describes himself as a practical moderate Democrat.

Kiley, a lawyer and educator, is currently the state assemblyman representing the 6th Assembly district, which includes Sacramento suburbs and rural areas southeast of Sacramento. He also ran in the recall election against Gov. Gavin Newsom, and lost like the rest of the “replacement” candidates.

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE

For more information on the candidates, see www. electkevinkiley.com and www.kermitjonesforcongress.com.