In the Headlines

A look at key House races in the 2010 midterm elections, including those in California:

California, Third District - Dan Lungren, R-Gold River (Sacramento County): In a year that's looking good for Republicans, Lungren is one of the few who's sweating.

U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren's political resume is already hefty: two-term California attorney general, Republican nominee for governor and one of the few members of Congress to have represented two different districts hundreds of miles apart.

Democrats believe they have a rare shot at knocking off the long-time political figure and perhaps capturing other GOP-held seats in California in 2010, which is otherwise shaping up as a tough year nationally for the party in power.

The 3rd Congressional District now has a likely Democratic nominee, physician Ami Bera, to take on incumbent Dan Lungren in the 2010 general election.

On Dec. 15, Bera, 44, of Elk Grove received the formal endorsements of early-campaign candidate Bill Slaton, a Carmichael Democrat, and Lungren's 2008 Democratic opponent, Bill Durston.

As potential challengers turn to supporters, an Elk Grove resident is focusing more and more on his campaign for Congress.

Dr. Ami Bera, a physician and former medical official, said after a Dec. 15 press conference he’s spending some of the hundreds of thousands of dollars he’s raised so far in his bid for a seat representing the Elk Grove area in the third Congressional District, and he’ll soon spend more.

With less that 11 months to go before the mid-term congressional election in November, 2010, Dr. Ami Bera, MD, today sought to present a united Democrat front to unseat three term incumbent Republican Dan Lungren from California ’s 3rd congressional district seat.

Indian-American Congressional candidate Dr. Ami Bera on December 1 became the sole Democrat to represent California’s 3rd Congressional district, following Bill Slaton’s withdrawal from the fray.

For House Republicans, this could be just what the doctor ordered.

The GOP is capitalizing on the recent health care debate to raise money from and organize Republicans in the medical community — as well as recruit candidates who have an “M.D.” after their name to run in 2010.

SMUD board of directors member Bill Slaton did some thinking over the long Thanksgiving weekend, and what he decided to do may turn a lot more attention to Elk Grove.

He dropped out of the race for the District 3 congressional seat currently held by Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Gold River), leaving an Elk Grove resident as the only Democratic challenger.

That Democrat is Ami Bera, a physician and former medical official.

Democrats have, for the time being, averted a costly primary in Rep. Dan Lungren's (R-Calif.) district.

Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) Director Bill Slaton announced Monday that he will be ending his primary campaign against Dr. Ami Bera. Bera has been among the top fundraising challengers in the country, but Slaton was able to self-fund extensively.

Sacramento Municipal Utility District Director Bill Slaton announced today he is dropping his bid to challenge Republican Rep. Dan Lungren and endorsing fellow Democrat Dr. Ami Bera in the 3rd Congressional District race.

Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA) -- one of a shrinking number of targeted GOP incumbents this cycle -- now knows his general election challenger: physician Ami Bera (D).