GOP to have internal battle in November

An intra-party battle for a state legislative seat is before Yuba-Sutter votes this fall, with Assemblyman Dan Logue’s announcement he’ll seek the 4th Senate District seat on Nov. 6.

“It gives me a greater opportunity to get the message out on job growth in the North State and protecting rural California and small businesses from regulatory hostile agencies,” Logue, R-Loma Rica, said Wednesday. “I’ve always said, if you grow the economy, 80 percent of the problems in California will disappear.”

By jumping in, Logue will be squaring off against fellow Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber, who’s got the support of former state Sen. Doug LaMalfa. It was LaMalfa’s decision to step down from his seat last week – to focus on a bid to win a seat in November to Congress – that set up a special election to coincide with the Nov. 6 general election.

Nielsen already announced he wouldn’t run for another Assembly term, but because the state Senate race is a special election, Logue can both run in it and on the general election ballot for a final two-year term in the 3rd Assembly District.

If Logue wins both his own race and LaMalfa’s former seat, it would require a special election to then fill his Assembly seat.

Logue said after LaMalfa’s announcement he was stepping down, he received nearly 50 phone calls encouraging him to run.

Though both Republicans, Logue and Nielsen have not been political allies in recent years, having endorsed different candidates for the state Senate race LaMalfa ultimately won two years ago.

As well, earlier this year Logue defeated Tehama County Supervisor Bob Williams in the June primary election for Assembly. Williams entered the race at Nielsen’s encouragement and endorsement.

In a press release, making note of the possible need for a special election and resulting costs, some leaders in the 4th Senate District said they were glad Nielsen took such a possibility into account in not running again for the Assembly.