Duncan Hunter failed to win the endorsement Monday of his local Republican Party after arguing that he is the best candidate for the job despite his approaching federal trial. Hunter faced significant odds of winning the two-third support he needed for the nod from the San Diego Republican Party, with several other GOP candidates dividing the vote, including former Rep. Darrell Issa. But it's nonetheless an unwelcome result for a campaign widely seen as vulnerable.
In remarks at a party forum in San Diego that were at turns fiery and defiant, the Southern California congressman suggested his rival candidates should look elsewhere for political opportunities. I'm still fighting from this seat. I'm still fighting for you," he said. The federal charges against the year-old lawmaker came up only glancingly throughout the hour-long forum, but they are an overarching issue in a contest in which the Republican candidates largely agree on immigration, opposition to abortion, defense of the Second Amendment and support for President Donald Trump.
His trial is scheduled to begin in January. Margaret Hunter, who served as the congressman's campaign chairwoman, later pleaded guilty to one count of corruption and agreed to testify against her husband.
Prosecutors have also charged that Duncan Hunter used campaign money to finance romantic flings with lobbyists and congressional aides. Hunter has pleaded not guilty and has called the charges a politically motivated attempt to drive him from office.
Hunter referred to the charges in his initial statement at the forum, while appearing to depict Issa and radio personality Carl DeMaio as interlopers unfamiliar with his district. Hunter noted that he carried the Republican-leaning 50th District in even after being charged, in a year when Democrats seized a string of Republican-held congressional seats in the state in a rout.
