SD-12 Denham Recall: Will Anna Caballero Jump In?

by Robert in Monterey [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Today's Salinas Californian reports Anna Caballero has said she "may" enter the race to replace Jeff Denham should he be recalled:

Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, said Thursday that she may jump into the race to replace Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Merced, if he is recalled by voters.

Caballero had indicated she wouldn't enter the race, but said she's reconsidering because of calls from Democratic activists in the San Joaquin Valley, part of the sprawling 12th Senate District.

"These are cold calls, from people that I don't know," she said.

It would be quite interesting to know who is making these calls. Caballero might well be a strong candidate - before taking her seat in the Assembly she was the Mayor of Salinas, and has a good organizing presence in the Salinas Valley. Of course, most of the district is over in the San Joaquin Valley - hence these calls.

Caballero's profile is also VERY similar to the other potential candidate, former Assemblyman Sim?n Salinas:

Caballero joins Monterey County Supervisor Sim?n Salinas as a possible candidate. Salinas again said Thursday that he is considering whether to enter the contest, which will go before voters at the time of the June 3 primary.

"Frankly, it comes down to (whether) we can get enough resources to get our message out," Salinas said. "It is such a big geographical area."

The filing deadline for candidates in the hurry-up election is 5 p.m. Saturday.

As Randy Bayne explained yesterday, Salinas was believed to already be planning a run at Denham's seat in the 2010 election - which, if successful, would let him stay in the seat until 2018. But if he took Denham's place through the recall, he'd have to step down in 2014. Caballero, on the other hand, is only in her first term in the Assembly, and could presumably return there in 2014 if she chose.

Again, the filing deadline is Saturday at 5pm, and I'll bring you updates as I get them.