Jun 23, 2006  |  By: LOU CHIBBARO J  | COMMENTS     

Democratic primary on June 6 to once earn the right to challenge Dreier. The Los Angeles County Democratic Party backed one of her opponents in the primary, Russ Warner. Warner boasted about his son serving in the Army in Iraq, while Matthews expressed opposition to the Iraq war.

Democratic Party leaders in the District, believing Warner had a better chance of defeating Dreier in a Republican-leaning district, were befuddled over Matthew’s decisive primary victory.

Matthews said she was confident that political sentiment expressed by voters in public opinion polls against Republicans would boost her vote totals in November, enabling her to defeat Dreier. She said her status as an out lesbian does not appear to have hurt her.

“I’m running as the candidate for the people who live in the district, not for the politicians in Washington,” she said.

One reason the issue has not surfaced may be that Dreier himself has long been the subject of rumors about his sexual orientation, fueled by his own refusal to answer direct questions about whether he is gay.

In San Diego, Democrat John Rinaldi, another political newcomer, also defeated a prominent Democrat in the June 6 primary, after receiving the endorsement of two key labor unions. He is running against incumbent Republican Duncan Hunter, who is considered a strong favorite in November.

But Rinaldi’s communications director, Brian van de Mark, said the candidate’s background as a military chaplain, former police officer and current business owner make him an attractive alternative to the politically entrenched Hunter, who is chair of the powerful House Armed Services Committee.

Van de Mark said that Hunter is a longtime political ally of former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, who resigned from office after being indicted and later pleading guilty on a bribery charge.

In a suburban Los Angeles district, gay Republican Peter Hankwitz, an entertainment industry talent agent and producer, is running against Democratic incumbent Brad Sherman, who has a strong, pro-gay record. Hankwitz backs same-sex marriage and would strongly oppose his party’s effort to pass a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

Guerriero said Log Cabin Republicans would consider endorsing Hankwitz this summer.

The Victory Fund endorsements are a greater surprise, especially considering Matthews’ strong run against Dreier two years earlier.

Brand said the Victory Fund never comments on why the group decides not to endorse a specific candidate. However, she said there is a longstanding policy of not endorsing congressional candidates who have not won election to another office. None of the three openly gay hopefuls in California has won previous elective office.

Brand said the Victory Fund,<