Area Congressman John Garamendi a couple of weeks ago acknowledged he was approached as a possible Democratic candidate to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated in 2016 by Barbara Boxer. However, it has been state Attorney General Kamala Harris, also a Democrat, who has been getting the bulk of the attention as a possible successor. A recent “pulse poll” by the Democratic-leaning Democracy for America and Courage Campaign shows Harris a solid front-runner and Garamendi listed sixth of 15 potential Democratic candidates. In a prepared statement, Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, a former lieutenant governor and state insurance commissioner, said earlier he would consider running for the seat. But, he also said, “my first duty is to the people of the 3rd Congressional District.”
