Former Republican Rep. Steve Kuykendall will not throw his hat into the ring to seek the congressional seat that he lost to Democrat Jane Harman back in 2000.
The one-term congressman -- who once served on the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council but moved to Long Beach last year -- said he had decided against joining the pack eager to succeed Harman, who resigned Monday to lead a Washington think tank.
"Kuykendall has decided not to make a run at this," Kuykendall said. "This seat is a very difficult seat."
Future redistricting could make the possibility of a Republican holding on to the seat, if won this time around, "a futile exercise," Kuykendall said.
That's something he knows a bit about.
In the 1998 race, Kuykendall defeated now-L.A. City Councilwoman Janice Hahn, who was quick to announce a run for Harman's seat last month. He won by about 2 points in what was then a swing district.
Two years later, Harman reclaimed the 36th District seat from Kuykendall on a 1-point margin when she challenged his bid for a second term. She had previously held the office from 1993 to 1999, relinquishing her seat to run for governor instead in 1998.
Kuykendall's effort to return to office in 2002 suffered from redistricting that favored Democrats by a 2-to-1 margin in the 36th, which now stretches from Venice to San Pedro, excluding the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
Those numbers haven't stopped other Republicans from declaring their candidacy for Harman's former seat. This week, Redondo Beach Mayor Mike Gin said he was running, joining Redondo Beach City Attorney Mike Webb.
Kuykendall said his name had been among a group of five Republican names bandied about for the race. Also mentioned have been Hermosa Beach Councilman Kit Bobko* and Craig Huey, a radio commentator and Rolling Hills Estates resident who publishes conservative voter guide, according to Kuykendall.
In addition to Harman, two other Democrats have announced their campaigns: California Secretary of State Debra Bowen, who is from Marina del Rey; and antiwar activist March Winograd, who lost the June primary to Harman.
A special primary in CD36 is expected in June.
*An earlier version of this post incorrectly referred to Bobko as mayor.
The one-term congressman -- who once served on the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council but moved to Long Beach last year -- said he had decided against joining the pack eager to succeed Harman, who resigned Monday to lead a Washington think tank.
"Kuykendall has decided not to make a run at this," Kuykendall said. "This seat is a very difficult seat."
Future redistricting could make the possibility of a Republican holding on to the seat, if won this time around, "a futile exercise," Kuykendall said.
That's something he knows a bit about.
In the 1998 race, Kuykendall defeated now-L.A. City Councilwoman Janice Hahn, who was quick to announce a run for Harman's seat last month. He won by about 2 points in what was then a swing district.
Two years later, Harman reclaimed the 36th District seat from Kuykendall on a 1-point margin when she challenged his bid for a second term. She had previously held the office from 1993 to 1999, relinquishing her seat to run for governor instead in 1998.
Kuykendall's effort to return to office in 2002 suffered from redistricting that favored Democrats by a 2-to-1 margin in the 36th, which now stretches from Venice to San Pedro, excluding the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
Those numbers haven't stopped other Republicans from declaring their candidacy for Harman's former seat. This week, Redondo Beach Mayor Mike Gin said he was running, joining Redondo Beach City Attorney Mike Webb.
Kuykendall said his name had been among a group of five Republican names bandied about for the race. Also mentioned have been Hermosa Beach Councilman Kit Bobko* and Craig Huey, a radio commentator and Rolling Hills Estates resident who publishes conservative voter guide, according to Kuykendall.
In addition to Harman, two other Democrats have announced their campaigns: California Secretary of State Debra Bowen, who is from Marina del Rey; and antiwar activist March Winograd, who lost the June primary to Harman.
A special primary in CD36 is expected in June.
*An earlier version of this post incorrectly referred to Bobko as mayor.
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