Busby officially concedes in 50th District race to Bilbray
By: WILLIAM FINN BENNETT - Staff Writer | ∞
NORTH COUNTY -- After holding out for days in the face of a nearly 20,000-vote gap, Democrat Francine Busby conceded the race for the 50th U.S. District House seat Tuesday to Republican Brian Bilbray, the incumbent.
"Today, I called Mr. Bilbray and congratulated him as the representative of the 50th District," Busby stated in a news release.
In an interview Tuesday, Busby said she had waited this long to concede defeat because her supporters had asked her to hang in there until the end.
"Every vote counts, the last vote as much as the first," she said. But, "I knew the night of the election, I wasn't going to win."
As of Tuesday night -- with 42,000 absentee ballots remaining to be counted -- registrar of voters officials reported that Bilbray continued to hold a wide lead over Busby, having received 112,209 votes, or 53.17 percent of all the votes cast and counted. Busby, meanwhile, received 91,793 votes, or 43.49 percent. Libertarian Paul King was a distant third with 3,900 votes, or 1.85 percent; and Peace & Freedom Party candidate Miriam E. Clark received 3,147 votes, or 1.49 percent.
One pundit sounded blase over Busby's concession announcement.
"What took her so long?" said UC San Diego political scientist and congressional election specialist Gary Jacobson asked.
Her loss culminates a year of tussling to choose a replacement for the now-imprisoned Randy "Duke" Cunningham, who pleaded guilty in late November 2005 to bribery and income tax evasion. In March, he was sentenced to serve more than eight years in a federal prison and now is in a federal facility in Butner, N.C.
In the race to see who would replace him, Republicans and Democrats spent millions of dollars in advertising that targeted Busby and Bilbray. The first election was in April. Busby and Bilbray were the top two vote-getters in a field of 18 candidates. Neither captured the 50 percent plus one vote necessary to win it outright.
Jacobson said that's where Busby missed her best opportunity to win the seat and the opportunity to run later in the year as an incumbent. He said her fate was sealed when she only captured 43.69 percent of the vote.
With no single clear winner in April, the contest was forced into a June runoff that Bilbray won, giving him the seat through the end of the year. The Nov. 7 election was held to select the person who would hold the office for a full two-year term starting in January.
In the fall campaign, Busby just couldn't overcome the odds in a GOP-dominated district where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by a 3-2 margin, she said, and seemed unable to capitalize on national opposition to Bush's conduct of the war in Iraq.
Reached by phone in Washington on Tuesday, Bilbray said he believes that voter frustration about immigration was what swayed the election.
"Every time a North County housewife drove down the street, she saw illegal aliens on the corner," Bilbray said. "When you talk about national security, at least in San Diego County, people tend to look south, not at Iraq."
UC San Diego's Jacobson said that it's hard to say what made the issue of illegal immigration foremost in the minds of voters, but it was a key issue in the April contest.
"It's a district with a lot of conservative Republicans for whom (illegal immigration) has a tremendous symbolism," Jacobson said, adding that Bilbray was able to continue capitalizing on voter frustration.
Busby said that in the end, she just couldn't get enough votes to overcome the odds in the general election.
"The bottom line was the built-in numerical advantage of Republicans in the district," she said. "It was just too big a hurdle for me, for anybody."
It also didn't help that national Democrats did little to help her financially, after she failed to win the runoff in June.
Money matters, Busby said.
Through early June, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spent about $2.5 million against Bilbray and the National Republican Congressional Committee spent about $5 million against her.
"And all (Republicans) talked about was immigration," Busby said of the ads targeting her.
Asked to comment on Busby's concession, Bilbray said it was "nice to have one more constituent to represent."
"And I have a responsibility to represent her as best I can, along with 600,000 other constituents."
Contact staff writer William Finn Bennett at (760) 740-5426, or wbennett@nctimes.com.
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Bob wrote on Nov 15, 2006 5:41 AM:Brian Bilbray will be lucky if he lasts two years in office. His ethical failings will drag him down. The Republican who challenges him in 2008 will do so without all the corrupt baggage and considerable support from coastal residents trying to preserve the California coast.
No dem: wrote on Nov 15, 2006 6:38 AM:Is ever going to win in CA-50. The District has been constructed in such a way to avoid that. It's called stacking the deck.
Ron wrote on Nov 15, 2006 7:11 AM:William Finn Bennett just had to get one last lick in against Bilbray with a reference to Duke. But he has never recited what caused Busby the race both times, 'You Don'T Need Papers For Voting." Busby has constantly had the help of this paper, especially Mr. Bennett. I'm glad she finally conceded, I just hope the paper will editorialize her hold out as unstatesman like, but they won't. They have been in the bag for Busby since the start. It was obvious to all.
El Jefe wrote on Nov 15, 2006 7:43 AM:Busby can continue to mutter about the numbers (Republicans over Democrats) all she wants as she just can't face up to her own inadequacy & lack of appeal as a candidate. She's never won before & she just lost again! Heh! heh! heh!
Robert wrote on Nov 15, 2006 7:47 AM:Rep Bilbray's comment shows he is a "class act" .. Good luck Mr. Bilbray we wish you well.
allen wrote on Nov 15, 2006 7:50 AM:Did you notice that there is virtually no crying for election fraud, recounts, "we wuz robbed",etc. on behalf of Republicans around the country? It's not surprising that Francine stomped her foot and refused to concede to reality for so long. What happened to that residence lawsuit that she initiated? A sore loser.
Joaquin wrote on Nov 15, 2006 8:15 AM:Who cares? It's a meaningless concession. She lost. It's time for her to go away.
"Every Vote Counts" wrote on Nov 15, 2006 8:30 AM:except for the ones cast by the illegals!
Every vote? wrote on Nov 15, 2006 9:43 AM:According to the registrar there are still 42000 votes left to be counted...what happened to Busby's "every vote" pledge? Oh well, at least she showed some belated class.
Bravo wrote on Nov 15, 2006 10:15 AM:I have to commend Francine a lady from Cardiff who as a wife, mother, community activist, school board member and congressional contender dared to take on the RNC. She had them on the run in a heavily republican district, so much so that they poured tons of money into the Bilbray campaigns, robo calling and ads to disparage her. Sure she wasn't as slick or schooled in the art of politics like Bilbray but she was a "real" person and I have to give her kudos for trying. I know all the nuts and fruitcakes will be coming out of the woodwork on this thread with their hateful messages about illegals this and illegals that. Just remember, Francine had the guts to run for office despite obviously knowing what was to come at her and she stepped up. For the record, she was never for amnesty. Good job Francine and Good Luck.
KenBone wrote on Nov 15, 2006 10:54 AM:If she knew she was already a loser, then why wait so long? Unless she just wanted her name in the news for a few more days.
Ron wrote on Nov 15, 2006 12:33 PM:You know what is really amzing about this particular race? Back in June, it was supposed to be the "keystone" race to the notion the Democratic message was working. The problem was, East Coast politics don't work well in Southern California, and especially in San Diego. During the special election, the Dem's just poured money into Busby trying to make this race the predictor of the November elections. It was not, because the East Coast DNC & DCCC misjudged the illegal alien problem in San Diego, and how it was seen by Southern Californians, in general. Busby provided the gaffe line, which from that point forward doomed her. In the run up to November, Busby was a lost cause to the DCCC & Rahm Emanuel, who only wanted to support winners. Busby was starved for funding by the DCCC, as by this time, they were reading the "tea leaves" from the June election, and they knew she would lose.
2008 50th Democrats wrote on Nov 15, 2006 12:39 PM:Francine, please run again for 2008. The 50th will be yours. When the racist Bilbray goes to Washington and starts running his mouth-off about illegal immigration, I am sure they are going to put him, in his place. He may have the 50th for now but he will not have any support in the House or Senate, the people have spoken in the US and positive changes will happen and one of them will be "Immigration Reform".
Daren wrote on Nov 15, 2006 1:17 PM:The only meaningful immigration reform is completion of the wall from the Pacific to the Gulf and mass deportations of all criminal illegals from the US.
Ha! Ha! wrote on Nov 15, 2006 1:22 PM:Yeah, please run again, Francine...so your vote total can go even lower next time! Keep running...the one guarantee to having the rep. win is to have Francine going against them. 4 times and counting!
Dem Majority in House and Senate wrote on Nov 15, 2006 2:06 PM:I hope she runs again. If she does, I and my family will vote for her. Bilbray can't represent me or my family he only looks out for the wealthy. At least he won't be able to do too much harm since there is a Democratic Majority!! Thank goodness for common sense and reason in other parts of this country. The Dems taking the House AND the Senate has made this not so bad. I'm proud to be an American once again. Mrs. Busby, my family and I were proud to support and vote for you and will gladly do it again. Thanks for stepping up. Took a lot of guts. Stay strong.
CR wrote on Nov 15, 2006 2:46 PM:The reason that Busby lost is that she was an extreme radical, bought and paid for by George Soros and MoveOn.org. If the Democrats had run a moderate, there would have been serious competition for Bilbray, as he is a liberal Republican. I left my ballot blank in this one--there is no winner, especially the 50th District voters.
I would of voted wrote on Nov 15, 2006 3:55 PM:for you Francine, but I couldn't remember, do or don't I need stinkin papers to vote?
Smart Voter wrote on Nov 15, 2006 4:12 PM:It is about time busby conceded the race. She did not get elected because she , like most democrats do not have a plan for the country.The only plan they have is just to be in power and belittle the president. The best thing they can do when confronted with facts is to call people names and make false accusations.
Marcus wrote on Nov 15, 2006 6:25 PM:Dem majority in the House and Senate...barely squeeked that one out kids. And against a Republican Party that apparently didn't get the memo that there was an election coming up. I can't wait for all of you who support the Dems to get your tax bill this next year. Should be interesting, particularly if you like killing the economy and throwing money down the drain. Also looking forward to the Dems calling for a pull out of Iraq so we can lose the war. That's what they did in Vietnam, why would it be any different now? Dems are the kids who got beat up in elementary school and ran home to hide behind mom. Republicans turned around and smacked the bully down. I mean, let's be real. If you are in a fight, who do you call...your conservative Republican friend or your liberal Democrat friend? Of course, I only surround myself with friends who are good in a fight...not a Democrat among us...so I may be a little biased.
Please wrote on Nov 15, 2006 6:45 PM:Oh, come on Francine, did you really think you were going to win?
Grateful to a courageous lady wrote on Nov 15, 2006 7:19 PM:It took a lot of courage for Francine Busby to run such a wonderful campaign in a district gerrymandered by the right wing to overwhelmingly prevent Democrats from winning, and in which one finds a majority of such monumentally stupid, racist, hateful sheeple as populate these comment boards. Sheeple who never learned to think for themselves (it's such hard work!) but are content to parrot lies and smears of the hate radio bobbleheads, the Rush Limbaughs and Hannitiys, etc. It's no wonder they all sound the same. Shame on those of you who perpetuate this kind of behavior in this forum.
jayz wrote on Nov 15, 2006 9:41 PM:Oh like "Air America" doesn't spew hate...I chime in on occasion just for a good laugh
bryan wrote on Nov 15, 2006 10:55 PM:Francine still doesnt get it. The illegal alien invasion is our number one concern. Raise my taxes, dont fix pot holes bring on the gay agenda I dont care as long as we stop the illegal invasion.
Kristina wrote on Nov 16, 2006 5:20 AM:What I don't get is that I read in the paper last week that Busby said there wasn't going to be a concession because she believed that she won, but then this article quotes her saying she knew she lost from election night. I think her pants are on fire.
Lawrence wrote on Nov 16, 2006 5:33 PM:Billbray will have lifelong employment in the 50th, unless he he conducts illegal activities. And yes, the deck is stacked in his favor, but the Dems in sacramento did the stacking. If the shuffled the deck and made more districts closer with Rep and Dems there would be closer races, but the Dems would risk losing a mojority. They are so sacred of that, they will continue to stack the deck.
zenseeker wrote on Nov 17, 2006 12:09 PM:It is shameful that San Diego have not pursued the carpetbagger's story early on in this election, and perhaps could make this race closer and more representative of the change that is on the minds of Americans all across our country. And it is a crying shame that the iron grips of gerrymanderng and the twisted logic perverting our conservative values, have managed again to suppress the underlying hopes & thoughts of average San Diegans. There is too much at stake in San Diego for change to come easily from half-hearted will. Francine gave us our only hope, because we so deeply want change, but the fabric of San Diego is not to be...and the carpetbagger story will be swept under the rug with the crimson stain of Duke Cunningham's deeds now firmly embroidered into it. Rise up San Diegans, for it will take a lot more, than what was needed to re-take the Senate. Pleae post my comments, they are all deleted. Why?
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