CLORV 2006 Election Wrap-up

In 2006, the California League of Off Road Voters Political Action Committee (CLORV PAC) had a good election year as a larger than usual number of CLORV endorsed candidates won election. CLORV endorsed Governor Schwarzenegger for re-election and Steve Poizner for Insurance Commissioner as part of the endorsement of the entire Republican Victory 2006 slate of statewide candidates. Of the CLORV endorsed Congressional candidates, 18 Republicans and 8 Democrats were elected. In the State Senate, 10 CLORV endorsed Democrats and 6 Republicans were elected. 25 Democrats and 32 Republicans who were endorsed by CLORV for the State Assembly won their elections.

There were two high profile losses that need to be mentioned. Both Congressman Richard Pombo in Northern California and State Senate candidate, former Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher in Orange County were defeated by their opponents. Off-roaders provided help to both of these candidates and should be justifiably proud of their efforts in these two races.

Off-roaders also turned out to support many of the CLORV endorsed candidates such as Congressman Brian Bilbray (R- San Diego), Congressman John Doolittle (R- Auburn), as well as Assembly candidates Joel Anderson (R- San Diego), Shirley Horton (R- San Diego), Bonnie Garcia (R- Imperial & Riverside Counties), and Nicole Parra (D- Bakersfield).

Each election more off-roaders are becoming involved in the political process and helping to elect pro-off road candidates. The 2008 elections are only 18 months away and promise to be very exciting. Besides the Presidential election occurring in 2008, future candidates for State Assembly or Senate are already becoming active in those districts where the current officeholders will be termed out due to California’s Term Limit law.

Of CLORV endorsed candidates who won election or in some cases re-election, the results were pretty evenly split between the two parties, 56 Republicans and 43 Democrats. CLORV PAC is truly a bipartisan PAC that only looks at one issue; what are the candidate’s views toward off road recreation in California. By way of contrast, if you look at who the typical environmental organizations endorse, you will see that they are nearly all from the Democratic Party.