Liberal Groups Spending to Defeat Democrat Joe Baca

Former Congressman Joe Baca has picked up some opposition from liberal environmental and women’s groups as he tries to win the primary for the 31st congressional district.

Baca is running against two other Democrats and three Republicans to represent California’s 31st congressional district. The top two vote-getters in next week’s June 3rd primary will then compete in the general election. Under California’s system, both of those candidates could be Democrats.

Attorney Eloise Gomez Reyes and Redlands Mayor Pete Aguila, both Democrats, have been leading the race. Aguila has been endorsed by the California League of Conservation Voters, and Reyes has been endorsed by Emily’s List.

But earlier this month the DCCC released a poll that showed Baca had closed the gap and was effectively in a three- way tie with Reyes and Aguila. That led supporters of the other two candidates to start spending money on opposition mailers.

The LCV sent out mailers which claim, “Congressman Joe Baca Has Repeatedly Voted to Put Our Drinking Water–and Our Families’ Health–at Risk.” At the same time, Women Vote!, a subsidiary of Emily’s list, is spending more than $10,000 on mailers critical of Baca.

Joe Baca served as a U.S. Congressman from California for more than adozen years representing the 42nd district and (after redistricting) the43rd. But in 2012, further redistricting split his former district. Hechose to run for a seat in the new 35th district and was defeated. Thisyear the 67-year-old is trying for a comeback in the 31st district.