GOP Looks for Upset in Race for Calif. House Seat

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Coastal California is Democratic turf, where the party often rolls up landslide victories for its candidates.

But this is a different year in the 36th Congressional District, which runs from the famous Venice boardwalk through the beaches south of Los Angeles International Airport.

In a season of turbulent politics, a little-noticed runoff election Tuesday for the House seat vacated by former Democratic Rep. Jane Harman has become unusually competitive.

The last time California's 36th Congressional District voted for a Republican was in 1998 where the candidate won by only 3.3% of the vote. Excluding the 1998 election this District has been solid Democratic since 1974. So a win for the Republican candidate would definitely be an upset victory for Democrats who have long held onto this seat which is a strong D+12, the next closest District a Republican holds with a strong Democratic advantage is Illinois's 10th Congressional District which is D+6.

Had it not been for the whole uproar around the Paul Ryan budget plan and the Tea Party candidate winning 9.0% in New York's 26th Congressional District the Republican would have won easily there. So it looks like the gains Republicans made in 2010 are holding strong or have fallen just slightly.

July 12 is the election in California 36 so we should know which party will hold this seat come the 13th.