Condit Loses Primary to Former Aide
Wed Mar 6,12:51 AM ET
By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Gary Condit lost the Democratic congressional primary to a former aide Tuesday, while conservative businessman Bill Simon opened a wide lead over the moderate former mayor of Los Angeles in the Republican gubernatorial contest.
After a campaign overshadowed by the Chandra Levy scandal, Dennis Cardoza handily beat Condit, his mentor and former friend.
With 65 percent of precincts reporting, Cardoza had 8,707 votes, or 54 percent. Condit had 6,130 votes, or 38 percent.
In the GOP primary, Simon had 258,532 votes, or 46 percent, with 20 percent of precincts reporting. Riordan had 159,140 votes, or 28 percent; and Secretary of State Bill Jones had 127,388 votes, or 23 percent.
The winner will face Gov. Gray Davis, who easily won the Democratic primary against little-known opponents.
Voters were also weighing six propositions, including a term limits initiative, as well as dozens of legislative and congressional races, including one that could send a pair of sisters to Congress for the first time.
Condit's bid to keep his central California seat was dominated by the disappearance of Chandra Levy, the 24-year-old Washington intern last seen April 30.
Condit, 53, admitted he had an affair with Levy, according to Washington police sources. But they have said he is not a suspect in her disappearance.
The gubernatorial contest had taken a startling turn in recent weeks as Simon transformed a 30-point deficit in polls into a lead over Riordan, who had been considered a sure thing for the nomination.
Despite the hotly contested primary, election officials said voter turnout was extremely low and could be the worst in the state's history. It was California's first gubernatorial primary in March.
Riordan, 71, ran partly at the urging of a White House eager for Republicans to retake California. But he alienated the conservative voters who make up the Republican Party's base by supporting abortion rights, gun control and gay rights.
That gave an opening to the anti-abortion Simon, a 50-year-old investor and political novice with a GOP pedigree. His father, William E. Simon, was treasury secretary under Presidents Nixon and Ford.
"We feel good ... our message is getting through to the voters," Simon told reporters as he watched returns at the state GOP's election night party.
Riordan also plummeted in the polls as Davis poured some $10 million into an unprecedented barrage of attack ads against him.
"The main goal has to be to replace Gray Davis. He's a disgrace to this state," Riordan told reporters minutes after polls closed. "I will work with whoever the nominee is to get rid of Gray Davis and get some real leadership in California."
In central California's farm country, Condit, a 13-year House veteran, faced the toughest challenge of his career from Cardoza, 42, a former aide who wrested cash and endorsements from former Condit supporters.
Condit campaigned like never before in a reconfigured district in which 40 percent of the voters had never seen his name on a ballot. He discussed issues at coffee shops, knocked on doors and shook just about any hand that reached out to him.
"I have done my job as a congressman. I have conducted myself as a gentleman and dignified. The only thing different is the intrigue of what's happened over the last summer and the fact that you're all here," the congressman told reporters after voting Tuesday morning.
The Riordan-vs.-Simon contest widened the split in the California GOP between moderates and conservatives.
Riordan urged the Republicans not to nominate Simon, warning that he is too far to the right to beat Davis in November. Democrats outnumber Republicans among registered voters in California.
For their part, Simon's backers questioned whether Riordan was a bona fide Republican and accused him of sacrificing party principles.
Meanwhile, in a newly created Los Angeles County congressional district, Democrat Linda Sanchez hoped to join her sister Rep. Loretta Sanchez in the House. If elected, they would be the first sisters to serve in Congress.
Voters also weighed six propositions, including an initiative to soften the state's term limits law. That measure lagged in early returns.
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