Endorsers Back Their Horse in Race for Congress

A blizzard of endorsement announcements have been arriving from the rivals for California’s 24th Congressional District, with Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider holding a definite edge on frequency, but strong endorsements are also being delivered for County Supervisor Salud Carbajal and Assemblymember Katcho Achadjian.

Most recently, Schneider won the favor of the National Women’s Political Caucus — though the Santa Barbara Women’s PAC was split between Carbajal and Schneider — which cited her advocacy for women from her work at Planned Parenthood in the ’90s to her service on local and state women’s organizations. Schneider was also endorsed recently by the Inlandboatmen’s Union, whose Southern California regional director, John Skow, recognized the mayor’s lead in the city’s living wage ordinance and collective bargaining.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris, herself a candidate in the 2016 race for U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer’s seat, endorsed Salud Carbajal in late August, saying, “Salud Carbajal is a hard-working and effective advocate for California’s working-class families” and lauding his ability to work collaboratively and deliver “real results.” More recently, members of city councils from Grover Beach to Carpinteria delivered their support for Carbajal: Santa Maria’s Terri Zuniga; Jeff Lee and Miriam Shah of Grover Beach; Goleta’s Michael Bennett, and Santa Barbara’s Gregg Hart and Cathy Murillo.

And to round out the endorsement round up, Katcho Achadjian, Republican assemblymember for the state’s 35th District since 2010, received the endorsement of all 28 Republican members of California’s Assembly in his run for the 24th. “Katcho has always taken a stand for the best interests of the Central Coast and his constituents,” said Assembly Republican Leader Kristin Olsen, “and will honorably represent them as their Congressman.”