bob whalen bipartisan support 95883 Bob Whalen Pits Bipartisan Support Against Conservative Patterson

Under the new non-partisan Open Primary law, California elections are no longer based on party affiliation. This represents a powerful opportunity for independent voters and Democrats in Assembly District 23 where both candidates on the November ballot are Republicans.

The two winners from the June primary election both happen to be from the same party. However, this does not signal an end to non-Republican participation in the election. On the contrary, candidates throughout California are finding themselves in the position where they can reach out to unaffiliated voters and voters from other parties.

This scenario is apparent in Fresno where both Bob Whalen and Jim Patterson are Republican candidates for the State Assembly.

The Fresno Bee set the tone for the “Republican on Republican” fight in the 23rd Assembly District. The paper has commented that “Whalen doesn’t shy from his union support,” and adds that Democrats such as former Fresno City Council Members Mike Dages and Dan Ronquillo — as well as current member Blong Xiong — have endorsed him.

Commenting on the impression that he hopes voters have of him Whalen said “I do get the sense that they see me as someone who’s going to be a problem solver and someone who can bring people together.”

For his part, Patterson has stated that “Sacramento has the same kinds of issues today that I wrestled with as mayor. I think I can be sympathetic when small farmers say, ‘Where’s our water?’ And small business says, ‘Why are we getting taxed and regulated?’”

In the 23rd Assembly District, Democrats and independents will be the deciding factor in which candidate wins. It is important, therefore, that Democrats and independents make their evaluations about the two candidates and vote.

Nora Campos (D), the incumbent, is running for re-election in the 2012 election for California State Assembly District 27. She was displaced from her current district by redistricting. She and Roger Lasson (R) advanced past the primary on June 5, 2012, unopposed.

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