California's 3rd Congressional District Race Pits Longtime Politician Against Progressive Newcomer | KQED

A 61-year-old Democratic congressman, a medical doctor with more than a decade of representation in parts of Sacramento, emphasized that running for Congress involves negotiation, assembling policy, and winning 218 votes to move legislation through the House. He said he is running again because experience is needed to accomplish those tasks and argued that Democrats must reclaim the House to make people’s lives easier. A new California governor poll from the Public Policy Institute of California shows Democrat Xavier Becerra leading with 23% among likely voters, followed by Republican Steve Hilton at 20%. Tom Steyer trails with 15%, while Chad Bianco and Katie Porter follow at 13% and 12%. The poll suggests it is unlikely California will produce two Republicans advancing to a November runoff.

"“I appreciate the young people that are engaged in wanting to run. But Congress is a lot more than just yelling loudly,” Bera said. “It's also about the art of negotiation, the art of being able to put policy together, the art of getting to 218 votes so you can move legislation through the House.”"

"Bera said that's why he's running again because he has the experience to make that happen. He said the most important task right now is for the Dems to reclaim the house, in order to make people's lives easier."

"Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are leading the crowded field for California governor in a new poll, which finds Democrat Tom Steyer trailing the top two candidates with less than a week remaining to vote in the primary election."

"The survey released Wednesday night by the Public Policy Institute of California is the latest poll to indicate that it's highly unlikely the state will end up with two Republicans advancing to a November runoff, something Democrats had feared this spring when party support was fractured among an unsettled, crowded field of candidates. It also shows Becerra continuing his surge to the front, despite being the target of debate attacks and critical ads, as well as Steyer's historic self-funding wave."

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