The impending Memorial Day weekend reminds us that summer is around the corner. And so, for that matter, are two gubernatorial primaries -- to choose a Republican nominee in New Jersey and a Democratic nominee in Virginia.
Here's our first attempt at a 2009 political calendar, which will be updated throughout the year:
May 19 -- Special primary in CA 32 to choose a successor to ex-Rep. Hilda Solis (D), now the secretary of labor. Top two candidates in this overwhelmingly Democratic district are Judy Chu, the chair of the California Board of Equalization, and state Sen. Gil Cedillo, both Democrats. Runoff: July 14.
May 19 -- UPDATE: Pittsburgh mayoral primary. Two candidates, City Councilman Patrick Dowd and attorney Carmen Robinson, are challenging incumbent Luke Ravenstahl in the Democratic primary. No Republican is running, which is just as well; Pittsburgh hasn't elected a GOP mayor in 75 years.
May 19 -- Philadelphia district attorney primaries, where incumbent Lynne Abraham (D) is retiring after 18 years. Favored among the five Democratic candidates is Seth Williams, a former assistant prosecutor who lost to Abraham in the 2005 primary. Williams would become the city's first black D.A.
June 2 -- New Jersey Republican gubernatorial primary. Former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie faces former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan for the right to face incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine in November.
June 9 -- Virginia Democratic gubernatorial primary. Gov. Tim Kaine (D) is barred from seeking re-election; Virginia is the only state that limits governors to one consecutive term. Democratic candidates: former DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe, ex-state Del. Brian Moran and state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds. Bob McDonnell, the former state attorney general, is unopposed for the Republican nomination.
July 14 -- Runoff in CA 32, assuming no one receives a majority in the May 19 special primary.
Aug. 4 -- Detroit mayoral primary. Dave Bing, who won a special election on May 5 to fill the remainder of the term of Kwame Kilpatrick, is expected to seek a full term.
Sept. 15 -- New York City mayoral primaries. The City Council waived term limits to allow Michael Bloomberg, elected twice as a Republican but now an independent, to run again. He will most likely be on the GOP line again. William Thompson, the city comptroller, is a likely Democratic candidate. Less certain are the plans of U.S. Rep. Anthony Wiener, who sought the Democratic nomination in 2005.
Nov. 3 -- ELECTION DAY.
categories: Calendar
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