The new California open primary is, as expected, producing some unusual, tumultuous races. In the newly- drawn 30th Congressional District, the race is between two incumbent Democrats, Howard Berman and Brad Sherman. Because this is a new seat, only one can win. In the California open primary, the top two vote getters regardless of party face each other in the general election. Thus we have the perhaps unseemly spectacle of two allies who differ very little on the issues slugging it out to win the election.
Indeed, they are so similar that the LA Weekly said, “The battle is now underway to determine which bald, Jewish Democrat who voted for the Iraq war will continue to represent the San Fernando Valley in Congress.”
Calbuzz says in mock disagreement, “There are clear differences, between the two congressmen: Berman is a member of Adat Ari El and Sherman attends Valley Beth Shalom.”
But putting snark aside, this election may be painful in some ways for Democrats as it pits party members with decades of experience against each other, something that could lead to intra-party fissures.