They start claiming “voter suppression.” Cue the California Democrat, Janice Hahn, contestant in CA-36’s special election:
As voters headed to the polls Tuesday to decide a hard-fought special congressional election in the South Bay area, attorneys for Democrat Janice Hahn filed complaints alleging that supporters of her opponent, Republican Craig Huey, were trying to suppress turnout of her voters.
In a letter sent Tuesday to the Los Angeles County district attorney, the U.S. attorney in Los Angeles and the California attorney general, Hahn lawyers Stephen J. Kaufman and Steven J. Reyes asked for immediate investigations into “voter suppression actitivies” in the 36th Congressional District race.
The attorneys said several voters reported receiving telephone calls Monday night telling them the election had been postponed to Wednesday at Hahn’s request ,and others were given wrong polling place addresses.
Any evidence? No, but that’s not really the point. This isn’t about the court of law, it’s about the court of politics. The claim generates headlines and sets up the field for a challenge if it’s close. It also undermines the credibility of the winner if the Democrat ends up losing, creating a bloody shirt to wave for the rematch.
Stacy McCain is covering the election in CA-36 here. Results are being posted here.
Update: Hahn wasn’t in much trouble after all. She won easily. California has swapped a Dem for a Dem.
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