GUBERNATORIAL RACE: Davis, Lungren Win Nod
In a statewide race for governor that show all three Democratic candidates campaigning on HMO issues, California Lt. Gov. Gray Davis won his party's nomination last night in California's first open primary. The Los Angeles Times reports that Davis' victory sets "up a November contest" with state Attorney General Dan Lungren who won the Republican nomination (Decker, 6/3). While all three Democrat candidates -- Davis, state Rep. Jane Harman and businessman Al Checchi -- "touted sound-alike HMO reforms," the fall campaign between Davis and Lungren "will offer a much sharper ideological contrast" (Marelius, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/3). (Click here to read California Healthline stories covering HMO campaign issues.) The Times reports that Lungren "was well behind Davis among voters" yesterday and that his "standing ... was more than slightly embarrasing for a candiate without opposition within his party" (6/3).
The Race Is On
At press time, state Sen. Bill Lockyer (Hayward) was beating state Sen. Charles Calderon (Los Angeles) and former U.S. Rep. Lynn Schenk (San Diego) in the race for Democratic candidacy for state attorney general. For the Republican nomination, former chief deputy to the attorney general David Sterling was leading Orange County District Attorney Mike Capizzi. And in the race for state insurance commissioner, incumbent Chuck Quakenbush won the Republican slot, while Marin County Supervisor Hal Brown and Assemblywoman Diane Martinez tied for the Democratic nod (Times, 6/3).