With the announcement that Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley is exploring a run for Attorney General, the Republican field is starting to look more like the Democratic field as an interesting, wide-open race.
For the longest time only State Senator Tom Harman announced for the seat on the Republican side. In the last couple of weeks, legal scholar John Eastman, Dean of the Chapman University Law School, and now Cooley said they are looking at the office.
Harman’s campaign immediately attacked Cooley with a press release from Harman supporter Mike Reynolds, chief proponent of the three-strikes-go-to-jail-for-life law. The release called Cooley “the most prominent opponent” of the law. Cooley backed a 2006 measure to add flexibility to the three-strikes law by giving judges more discretion in sentencing three-timers depending on the seriousness of the third offense.
The powerful Attorney General position is often called a steppingstone to the governorship. Since Earl Warren’s day nearly every attorney general has taken a run at the governorship, a few succeeding, others grabbing the nomination of their party.
Jerry Brown, setting his own path as usual, took the reverse course going from governor to attorney general with a few stops in between. But rumor has it he may be on the more traditional path at the moment from AG to governor.
The Democratic field filled up fast. Democratic legislators Alberto Torrico, Pedro Nava, and Ted Lieu have filed for the office along with former legislator Joe Canciamilla, San Francisco DA Kamala Harris, former Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo and Facebook executive Chris Kelly.
Cooley presents an interesting addition to the mix. A Republican serving in the most populous county with heavy Democratic registration, Cooley has won the DA’s office overwhelmingly in three consecutive elections.
The problem for legislators in both parties seeking the office is the title they plan to put on the ballot. If they rely on “legislator” or “assembly member” or “state senator” they are asking for trouble from an electorate that has shown every sign they want to carve up the legislature. Using the legislative title is a difficult choice when only 10% of likely voters approve of legislators.
Target Book co-founder and Fox and Hounds Daily contributor, Allan Hoffenblum, says the current climate is good for someone who has served as a district attorney. “The DA label will be a strong moniker,” Hoffenblum said. “The District Attorneys would like to see one of their own in the Attorney General’s office. It’s been a while since a DA has won the office.” He added that in recent years politicians have won the AG office.
Hoffenblum believes Cooley will have a leg up on support from other District Attorneys over his fellow District Attorney, Kamala Harris, because of her more liberal record in San Francisco.
Hoffenblum suggested the competitive nature of the races in the two parties and the fact that voters understand the role of attorney general should bring plenty of attention to the DA’s race. “Voters know what the governor and attorney general do, they are not sure what the controller does.”