Lantos Retirement Opens Door for Potential Speier-Yee Showdown

CMR was saddened to learn today that U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos (D-San Mateo, San Francisco) has been diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus and therefore won’t be seeking re-election. The only Holocaust survivor ever elected to Congress and a courageous opponent of human rights abuses around the world, most recently the genocide in Darfur, he is and will continue to be a steadfast symbol of strength and dignity for his constituents and all Americans.
 
His announcement does close the book on one potential political showdown and opens the door to another. Longtime and highly-respected former state legislator Jackie Speier, whose onetime boss Congressman Leo Ryan represented this same or similar San Francisco Peninsula district before he was killed in the line of duty (while Speier was wounded) in the Tragedy at Jonestown, had been formalizing plans to make a high-profile run against Lantos in this year’s primary. Now, while she’s clearly the favorite, short odds are she won’t be the only serious candidate looking at the seat, especially given the hurt feelings among Lantos loyalists.
 
CMR has learned that Leland Yee, who succeeded Speier in the State Senate two years ago, is contemplating a possible run and has a better-than-average shot of getting Lantos’ endorsement in the process.       

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