This coming Tuesday is a special election primary for California’s 36th congressional district, which had been represented by Jane Harman until her retirement earlier this year to lead the Wilson Center in Washington. The top two vote-getters in Tuesday’s primary, regardless of primary affiliation, will move on to a general election in July.
Among those hoping to make the cut Tuesday is an executive with a NewSpace company. Stephen Eisele, one of six Republicans running in the special election, is also head of sales for Excalibur Almaz, the multinational company that is developing a commercial orbital spaceflight program using legacy Russian hardware. Eisele, who joined Excalibur Almaz in 2007, is responsible for the company’s global sales activities; the bio on his web site notes that he specifically works “with the entertainment industry to help foster creative partnerships for future projects.”
Given that background, it’s not surprising that he mentions space issues on his campaign web site.”I am a strong supporter of our US defense and aerospace industry and believe in fostering continued commercialization and incentivizing innovation through competition,” he writes. “Having worked in the Space industry for many years, I am a strong advocate of Space exploration and its benefits to humanity.” He specifically cites the need for export control reform and the use of prizes, but doesn’t go into other details about civil or national security space policy.
Eisele, though, faces a major challenge in the election: the district, which includes many of the South Bay communities in the Los Angeles area from Venice Beach to San Pedro, is heavily Democratic. Given the open nature of the primary, that will make it difficult for any Republican, let alone a relatively unknown newcomer like Eisele, to get enough votes to move on to the July runoff.
That’s my district. Doesn’t it depend on how many Democrats run and split the vote?
It’s my ex-district, thank God, and “the South Bay communities in the Los Angeles area from Venice Beach to San Pedro, is heavily Democratic.” is an accurate description. Fast becoming bilingual as well. Much of the aviation industry of any consequence is long gone from there.
Jeff, I think you mean “party” affiliation, right? Also, if anyone gets a majority of the vote, they win outright, and there will be no runoff. I suspect that my next representative will be long-time state representative, senator and Secretary of State Debra Bowen, either tomorrow or in July, after a runoff with Janice Hahn.
“Eisele, though, faces a major challenge in the election: the district, which includes many of the South Bay communities in the Los Angeles area from Venice Beach to San Pedro, is heavily Democratic. Given the open nature of the primary, that will make it difficult for any Republican, let alone a relatively unknown newcomer like Eisele, to get enough votes to move on to the July runoff.”
Kudos to all those who jumped into the fray. That is being what a citizen of the United States is all about. In 1994, In the Massachusetts 2nd congressional, Neal (D) MA-02, I managed a no-name challenger, John Briare, campaign, where in Massachusetts you need 2,000 ‘certified’ resident voter district signatures (party affiliation matters and ‘unenrolled” (independents) count). We amassed 4,200 raw signatures and scored 3,600 certified. The Secretary of State’s office only allowed us to submit 2,400, for comfort. A monumental effort in a democratic district of Massachusetts, a Republican and pro-life candidate. Needless to say, 17 years later, I am typing here.
But we had fun, we were that pesky fly that wouldn’t leave Neal’s head. 
@Gary Anderson wrote @ May 16th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
Not a chance in that part LA for any Republican.
Of course he’s got to mention it…it’s good PR.