California and Seven Other States Hold Primary Elections

(June 3, 1998)  Primary elections were held in eight states on Tuesday, including California.  Incumbent Sen. Boxer (D-CA) and Minority Leader Daschle (D-SD) faced little opposition.  No key players in legislation affecting the computer and Internet industry were defeated.

California is hosting its first open primary, with voters able to vote for any candidate regardless of party affiliation.  Incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer easily beat her Democratic challenger,  John Pinkerton.  On the Republican Party, Matt Fong narrowly edged out Darrell Issa, while Frank Riggs finished a distant third.  Fong will face Boxer in the November general election.

Incumbent Rep. Chris Cox, (R-CA 47) ran unopposed in the Republican primary in his 47th Congressional District.  Cox is a leading proponent of both the Internet Tax Freedom Act, and Internet Protection Act.   The ITFA would impose a three year moratorium on new state or local discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce.  This bill, HR 3849, passed the House Commerce Committee by a vote of 41-0 on May 15.

The Internet Protection Act (HR 2372), which Cox is cosponsoring with Rep Rick White (R-WA), would prevent the Federal Communications Commission from engaging in certain types of regulation of the Internet.  So far, it has languished in the House.

In the Silicon Valley and surrounding areas no incumbent Representatives faced any serious challenges on Tuesday.  Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA 12) ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.  His share of the total vote was far largely than that of Robert Evans, his opponent in the November General Election.   Rep. Fortney Stark (D-CA 13) also ran unopposed on the Democratic side, and greatly outdistanced November Republican opponent, James Goetz.

Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA 14) won far more votes than either her opponent or the Republicans.  Eshoo is a prime backer of the Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act, which would make it harder to bring unmerited class action suits against high tech companies.  The Senate version has passed, but the House version is still in the Commerce Committee, on which Eshoo sits.

Also, Eshoo and Rep Billy Tauzin (R-LA) are cosponsoring HR 2991, the Electronic Commerce Enhancement Act.  This bill would allow people and businesses to file federal forms over the Internet, and "sign" their names on the Internet.

Rep. Tom Campbell (R-CA 15) ran unopposed, and will face Democrat Dick Lane in the General Election.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA 16) is a lead co-sponsor of the SAFE Act (Safety And Freedom through Encryption - HR 695) which would guarantee Americans the right to use and export encryption products of any strength.  Presently, Americans can use encryption products, but there are restraints on export of encryption products.

In other California Congressional races, former Bob Dornan won a hotly contested Republican primary, beating James Gray and Lisa Hughes.  He is now set for a rematch with Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA 46).

In the seat being vacated by the by the retirement of Rep.Vic Fazio (D-CA 3), in the Sacramento area, Sandie Dunn won the Democratic primary, while Doug Ose won the Republican primary.

In the 36th District, currently represented by failed gubernatorial candidate Rep. Jan Harman (D-CA), Democrat Janice Hahn will face off against Republican Steven Kuykendall.  In the open 1st District Democrat Mike Thompson will run against Republican Mark Luce.

Rep. Jim Rogan (R-CA 27) had been thought by some to be vulnerable.  However, he ran unopposed and won 59.1%, while the lone Democratic candidate, Barry Gordon, garnered only 36.6%.

The bilingual education Proposition 227 passed easily.  It was promoted by software millionaire Ron Unz.  If not vetoed by the judiciary, it will replace the state's bilingual education program with an English immersion program, after one year of transition classes. Also, parents can ask that their children get bilingual education.

In the governor's race, Lt. Gov. Gray Davis easily beat wealthy opponents Al Checci and Rep. Jane Harman, and will face Dan Lungren in November.

In South Dakota, Sen. Tom Daschle, the Senate's Minority Leader, ran unopposed.  He will face Ron Schmidt in November.

In New Jersey, Rep. Bob Franks (R-NJ 7) easily won the Republican nomination, and will face Mary Ann Connelly in the General Election.  Franks is the sponsor of the House version of the Safe Schools Internet Act, HR3177, which would require any school or library receiving funds from the FCC's Schools and Libraries Fund for telecommunications, Internet access, and internal connections toinstall blocking software.

Rep. Marge Roukema (R-NJ 5) beat off a primary challenge from Scott Garrett.  She will face Mike Schneider in November.   Roukema is the sponsor of HR 2791, which would bar Internet service providers from giving accounts to sexual predators.