Congresswoman-elect Jackie Speier, the California Democrat who sailed to victory during a special election on Tuesday, will be sworn in this morning, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said yesterday.
Speier won with 77 percent of the vote in an election to fill the seat vacated by former Rep. Tom Lantos, California Demcorat, who passed away in February after a bout with esophageal cancer. She is a former state senator and assemblywoman and was a candidate for lieutenant governor in 2006.
By winning more than 50 percent of the vote, Speier avoids a runoff to complete Lantos' term but will face at least four Democratic opponents on June 3 for a state primary, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
"It was a tremendous victory, but now it's already time to get to work," Speier said in a message to her supporters. "We've got a lot of work to do — to end the war in Iraq, rejuvenate our economy, make quality health care available to all Americans, protect our environment, fight global warming — the list goes on and on."
— Carrie Sheffield, Web editor, The Washington Times
Comments (3)
I love the photo! I it looks straight out of a real estate prospectus. But a little intrigue too...what's she got between those hands! Candy? Rose petals? Budget reform? I hope her career is as broad as the bulge of her hair. Huzzah Speier!
Posted by Matty | April 10, 2008 11:07 AM
Jackie Speier is one in a million. There is a reason she won 77% of the vote. She has always stood up for the people of California in addition to her constituents. While in the legislature she got over 300 bills signed into law overcoming the influence of special interests with strong lobbies. We were sad when she lost the Lt. Gov race and then was termed out, but most people believe that this is where she belongs, rather than as Lt. Gov because she can continue to do what she does best-fight for the people and not the special interests.
Posted by Speierfan | April 10, 2008 12:41 PM
I really like Jackie. I do not approve of her support of Hillary Clinton, however. Hope she'll switch to Obama.
Posted by Sally | April 11, 2008 5:12 PM