EXCLUSIVE: Former Rep. Steven Kuykendall To Run For 47th Congressional District

Details: By Staff Reports; | Wednesday, 24 August 2011 09:22

3:10pm EXCLUSIVE | Former Congressman Steven Kuykendall (R) confirmed today with the Long Beach Post that he has filed his necessary paperwork to run for the new 47th Congressional District. Kuykendall also said "a formal announcement is coming within the next few weeks."

Long Beach CIty Councilmember Gary DeLong (R) announced his candidacy last week and State Senator Alan Lowenthal (D) told the Press-Telegram back in June he is running for the new seat as well.

Former Congressman Steven Kuykendall (R) Kuykendall served the 36th congressional district from 1999 to 2001 after defeating Janice Hahn. Two years later, Jane Harman defeated Kuykendall to regain the seat she resigned from in 1998 to run for Governor. He was also a member of the California State Assembly from 1994 to 1998 and ran again in 2004 but was defeated by Betty Karnette. He served on the Rancho Palos Verdes city council from 1991 to 1994.

Kuykendall currently runs a government relations firm serving as president of Steven T. Kuykendall & Associates.

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Archived Comments (19)

Bill of Rights

The plot thickens. This is a huge break for Mr. Lowenthal and bad news for Mr. DeLong.

DeLong now has a much tougher row to hoe. He will not automatically be the Republican nominee. He and Mr. Kuykendall will split primary votes. Can Alan Lowenthal take 50% plus one in the primary? I doubt it. But whoever remains against him will have had to spend a lot of money in the primary, thereby leaving less cash in the campaign coffers for the general election. Meanwhile, Lowenthal will still have most of his money -- and the unions' help.

reality speaks

Bill of Rights - you forget that one of the Sanchez sisters is looking at the seat and so is Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, despite any denials from her camp. In addition, Mr. Kuykendall's time and name have come and gone. Who really remembers him that is going to vote and it is the top two who move on to November in any event and with Delong's war chest and ability to spend his own money along with business people who know him today I can't imagine where Kuykendall is going to draw his support from. Lowenthal still has a problem with city leaders based on his RDA vote and advocacy to get rid of it and that still resonates on the 14th floor in a negative manner, so they are not eager to get behind him. Besides from what everyone is hearing polling not going well for Lowenthal especially in the OC cities of the 47th. But, it is early.

Nick Fiesta

Unfortunately, Lowenthal is the favorite for this seat. However, it's great news that Kuykendall's (and his significant name recognition) entry will stick a big fork in DeLong's pretentious congressional aspirations.

Front Page Frank

Congrats on your exclusive!

Bad Legislation

Agree with most of what Reality says, but the Lowenthal name is still very well respected among the voters (who have proven they are terrible at electing people). Gerrie's best bet is still a write-in in the 5th, and she only hurts herself by losing either a primary or a Congressional election. The downside for Gary is someone else is out there beating him up before Alan even has to. This district will be slightly more amenable to a Republican than the current LB Congressional District, but I still say it is sadly Alan's seat to lose....

Helen

Steve's got my vote!

Marshall Riverdale

Here's the deal folks...California has open primaries now. Doesn't matter if you get more than 50% of the vote in the first go-around. Only matters if you're in the top two. Top two are in the general election. Everyone will now be spending big for the primary....

Just hope he's not another one of the "Christian" bigots since he is a Republican. That party is getting nuttier and nuttier!

Paul

Don't care who wins, as long as they can stop giving money away for nothing in return. Even a bit of, "thank you" would work in some instances, but we have people like Rep.Maxine Waters telling a good part of the public to,"Go to Hell." Nice. Wonder if she has ever had to work for a living? So let's hope real, "Change" happens and not just more of the same.

gut feeling

gut feeling
At this point-and-time, steven is interested only in steven kuykendall. There is NO WAY in H... that he (steven) can get the votes to even come close to defeat Lowenthal. He should leave the past in the past.
Gary DeLong has my vote ! ! !

Mike Ruehle

Kuykendall and DeLong are BOTH recent transfers from Palo Verdes. Interesting that they both came down from their mountain to Long Beach to further their political careers.

The right man for the job

It's about time we have someone running for Congress that actually cares about his community and his country. Plus Kuykendall is willing to make the right decision over the popular one. We need more people like Kuykendall in office. He's got my vote.

Thomas Paine

Mr. Ruehle's comment makes the most sense. A bit of common sense is needed here.
kuykendall is just not very bright, and everyone in Palos Verdes knew that his wife carried him for years while he ran for a job. DeLong is an interloper who has fed at the public trough himself for too long. Lowenthal cannot deliver...on anything...and is part of the State Legislature that is the laughingstock of the Nation. The coomon sesne approach would be to wait and see who else enters the race. I, for one, believe a great man and Long Beach native like Tim Cameron should throw is hat in the ring.

concerned

The good news and the bad news The good news is that we have two bright capable men running for the seat who individually would be able to beat Lowenthal who is trying to make a career of politics. The bad news is that they are running in the primary against each other. Either of them is a win, however DeLong has been working on this seat for a long time, its to bad they can't be running for different seats. That would be a win for all. As good a job as think Kuykendall can do, I will support De Long. De Long has a sincere committment to our city.

Justin

"De Long has a sincere committment to our city (sic)." that is such a laughable statement. do you live in the 3rd district or in bizarro world?

Like we really need another Republican lobbyist in Congress.

Nick Fiesta

What is needed is a well-funded conservative candidate from OC to put us all out of our misery.

Concerned in the LBC

This is great news for Alan and the Dem's! It will be fun watching Palos Verdes Transfer Kuykendall and Mr. "Hurt 2nd Street Belmont Shore Businesses" DeLong chase Republican Votes on little name recognition.

RW Crum

I'm curious how this can be an exclusive when Pearl had it up the same day along with an interview.

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