Following CDP Unity Event, Chair Eric C. Bauman Announces Candidates for Lieutenant Governor Reach Agreement On Party Endorsement
Sacramento – One day after a boisterous and hopeful unity rally at California Democratic Party (CDP) Headquarters celebrating the statewide Democratic ticket for the November General Election, CDP Chair Eric C. Bauman has announced an agreement between the candidates for Lieutenant Governor – Senator Ed Hernandez and Ambassador Eleni Kounalakis – to forgo seeking the CDP endorsement at the upcoming CDP Executive Board meeting in July.
The agreement was reached between the respective campaigns with Chair Bauman’s participation, support and reinforcement to promote the spirit of unity around the Democratic ticket by jointly declining to seek the Party’s endorsement. The announcement will now allow the grassroots Democratic activists who comprise the CDP Executive Board to focus their efforts at the upcoming Party Executive Board meeting on ensuring victory for Democrats facing Republicans in November.
In a joint statement from the candidates, Ambassador Kounalakis and Senator Hernandez said, “Our Party stands strong and united in our vision for California. While we will be campaigning as individuals and sharing our personal stories and messages, we will not seek the Democratic Party endorsement, which would only serve to divide our time, our focus and our supporters.”
Chair Bauman praised both candidates, saying, “Ed Hernandez and Eleni Kounalakis have demonstrated extraordinary and thoughtful leadership with this decision. They are putting the unity and integrity of the Party above their own considerations, and that is exactly the kind of leadership Californians expect from Democrats. I am proud that our Party will be represented by these two talented and progressive leaders in the race for Lieutenant Governor.”
As the two highest vote-getters in the Primary for Lieutenant Governor, Ambassador Kounalakis and Senator Hernandez are advancing to the November General Election ballot. The campaign for Lieutenant Governor is one of three statewide contests featuring two Democrats in November.
