TORRANCE — Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday headlined an event, along with California State Assembly Speaker Toni G. Atkins, in support of Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi.
The rally, which took place at Muratsuchi’s campaign headquarters in Torrance, was intended to highlight the importance of keeping Muratsuchi in the Assembly.
“Al Muratsuchi worked with me to find bipartisan solutions to creating jobs, restoring funding to our schools, balancing the state budget, and improving our economy,” said Brown. “Al works tirelessly to help local businesses create good, middle-class jobs and works across the aisle to find the solutions important to Californians — a balanced budget, good schools, and safe neighborhoods.”
Muratsuchi, a first-term moderate Democrat, is fighting to retain his seat representing the South Bay. His Republican opponent is Manhattan Beach businessman David Hadley.
Despite a slight registration advantage for Democrats in the district, the seat is considered to be one of the more competitive Assembly races in an off-year election where turnout tends to be depressed, especially amongst Democratic voters.
“I am proud to welcome Gov. Brown and Speaker Atkins to the beautiful South Bay,” Muratsuchi stated. “It is an honor to have served alongside these two great leaders, who can attest to my record of working across party lines to improve our economy, protect our environment and provide quality education for our children.”
In addition to a large number of volunteers, the room was filled with high-profile supporters, including Rep. Janice Hahn, Los Angeles County Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman, State Sen. Ted Lieu, who is running for Congress, and other locally elected officials from across the political spectrum.
Muratsuchi points to his endorsements from Republican, Democratic and independent leaders in the 66th Assembly District as evidence that he is the only candidate in the race who can bring both parties together to find common ground.
Brown emphasized Muratsuchi’s pragmatic leadership in the Assembly, which has resulted in legislation supported by both Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature.
“We need more effective, bipartisan leaders like him in the Assembly,” Brown concluded.
We cover JA candidates of both parties. Currently all of the JAs in the Legislature and Congress are Democrats, but we have covered JA Republican legislators in the past and will do so again in the future. We believe that our readers are interested in what JAs are doing in politics, regardless of party. How they vote is of course up to them.
It’s VERY sad you guys back up Muratsuchi just because he is J.A.
It is very offensive to us Republican Japanese who do not support him.
We are beyond voting for people based on them being the same color skin as us!