Republican lawmakers Jim Nielsen and Dan Logue jumped out quickly this month to announce that they will seek Doug LaMalfa's recently vacated Senate seat, but four other competitors have now filed to run.
Secretary of State Debra Bowen is scheduled to complete a check of filing papers and formally announce the field of candidates this evening for the 4th District Senate seat that winds through 12 counties.
The tentative field includes Democrat Mickey Harrington, a Magalia resident and labor council president who ran unsuccessfully for an Assembly seat in 2006, 2008 and 2010.
Three others who have declared their candidacy are not members of either major party: Jann Reed, a Chico Unified School District trustee; Ben Emery, ranch manager; and Dan Levine, a rancher and graduate student.
A primary election for the 4th District seat is planned in conjunction with California's statewide presidential election, Nov. 6.
If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of votes cast in the primary, a runoff will be held Jan. 8 featuring the top two vote-getters, regardless of party.
Nielsen, a Gerber resident, and Logue of Marysville are Republicans who currently serve in the Assembly.
Logue also is running for re-election in the Assembly, a position he plans to resign if wins LaMalfa's Senate seat, which represents a large chunk of rural Northern California, from Del Norte to Yuba counties.
LaMalfa is running for the congressional seat of Republican Wally Herger in a heavily Republican district. The winner of his state Senate seat will serve the remaining two years of his four-year term.
Latest posts:
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.