The Stars are Lining Up for Janice Hahn (in the Background)

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By Kyle Cheney

With Sandhya Raman, Daniel Lippman and Steven Shepard

The following newsletter is an abridged version of Campaign Pro's Morning Score. For an earlier morning read on exponentially more races – and for a more comprehensive aggregation of the day's most important campaign news – sign up for Campaign Pro today. (http://www.politicopro.com/proinfo)

TODAY ON CAMPAIGN PRO – "Conservatives fight to close GOP primaries," by Kyle Cheney: http://politico.pro/1IBsI2T

— Speaking of primaries, a new study from the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California-Berkley suggests the state's top-two primary system didn't have much to do with the outcome of the 2014 elections, though it may have shaped the field and affected voters' research habits (via the Sacramento Bee): http://bit.ly/1yXClPD

SCORE EXCLUSIVE – Moving pieces in CA-44: The stars seem to be aligning for Rep. Janice Hahn, a California Democrat eyeing a bid for Los Angeles County supervisor. The L.A. Times just reported that one potential competitor, Rep. Linda Sanchez, has dropped out of the running and promised to endorse her. And now, an ally – state Sen. Isadore Hall – is lining up a slew of important endorsements for Hahn's bid. According to Dave Jacobson, a campaign consultant from the LA-based firm Shallman Communications, – who represents both Hahn and Hall – Hall has arranged endorsements from retired Rep. Diane Watson and Reps. Ted Lieu, Norma Torres, Karen Bass and Juan Vargas, as well as Compton Mayor Aja Brown.

Oh brother! Now these politicians are telling the stars and the planets to align around their long-term ambitions.

Is there anyone who can disrupt this galactic arrogance? Anyone!

Aunt Janice ought to have the courage to admit right now that she is not interested in representing her constituents in Congress, and is just looking for the next seat.

Republicans, conservatives, and disaffected  Democrats should not embrace the suck of another legacy political family taking a plum seat in Los Angeles County. Gloria Negrete McCleod gave up her house seat this past year to run for the San Bernardino Board of Supervisors, and LOST!

To a Republican.

I have heard noise in the background, not necessarily the bright lights of stars falling from their proper alignment, that former Torrance Mayor Frank Scotto  may run for Don Knabe's seat. Mike Gin, the former mayor of Redondo Beach, has announced a bid. State Senate minority leader Bob Huff could run, since he represents Diamond Bar, but will he give up his assignment in the state senate, now that the rules have changed and allow an extended stay in  Sacramento's upper chamber?