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SACRAMENTO When it comes to the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by long-serving Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, the California Republican Party faces the same problem it faces with all statewide races it has virtually no chance of winning given the lopsided nature of voter registration. The GOP can win legislative and mayoral races even in some Democratic-leaning districts, but it has a long way to go before it can capture a constitutional office or a Senate seat.

Following Boxers announcement, the buzz has understandably focused on internal Democratic Party politics. Attorney General Kamala Harris is the pick of the state establishment and theres some frustration among Southern California party officials that a Latino candidate might be getting the short shrift. The common wisdom holds, given the states relatively new Top Two primary system, that the general election will feature two Democrats. Of course, if the Democrats engage in internecine warfare that maybe a longshot Republican can snatch the No. 2 slot.

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is mulling a run, but recent polls show him polling below U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez of Santa Ana, and some other Democrats who may or may not be running. The best-polling name is former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a Republican who says shes definitely not considering a run.

But some Republicans are weighing a run, albeit none of them are high-profile candidates. Assemblyman Rocky Chavez of Oceanside is exploring a race, although it seems like more of an effort to raise his statewide profile than to wage a serious contest.

Former California Republican Party Chairman Tom Del Beccaro today told this column that he has officially started an exploratory committee for a Senate run. Del Beccaro, an attorney who writes for Forbes magazine and is author of a forthcoming book ("The Divided Era"), has never won political office, but sees his run as a means to discuss important conservative political issues.

Its not a certainty that he will run, but it looks likely.

The combination of the California state and federal economic policies, including lopsided income tax codes and environmental policies that have gone too far, are resulting in economic stagnation for too many Californians, he told me. We need a better balance of regulations and pro-growth policies designed to encourage the private sector to promote economic growth throughout the state. If I run, I intend to offer those policies.

Can he raise enough money to be competitive? That, too, sounds like a longshot, but it would be nice to have a race that focused more on issues, and less on ethnic divisions and intra-party disputes.

Greenhut is the California columnist for U-T San Diego. Contact him at steven.greenhut@utsandiego.com.

Originally posted here:
Republican explores race for Senate seat