After less than a year in the state Senate, Juan Vargas said Thursday he plans to run for a soon-to-be vacant congressional seat.
Vargas, D-San Diego, said he wants to run for Rep. Bob Filner’s seat in 2012, as Filner is planning a run for the San Diego mayor position. Vargas announced his intentions the day after Filner opened a campaign for the 2012 election.
With no one else yet announcing their intention for the congressional seat up for election in 2012, it’s a “natural progression” for the area state senator to move up to Congress, Vargas said.
“The reason’s very clear,” he said. “There’s going to be an empty seat.”
He added he thinks he has a good chance in the running. Nobody else has really put forth their interest in the position, and he’s been a longtime representative of the San Diego area.
Vargas said he’s also gotten to know the Imperial Valley well, making connections that scored him a big win from the area last year.
Vargas has previously served as state assemblyman for a portion of the San Diego area from 2000 to 2006 and on the San Diego City Council from 1993 to 2000. He was elected in November for the state Senate’s 40th district seat, which includes portions of San Diego and Riverside counties and all of Imperial County.
Vargas had previously run for the 51st congressional seat against Filner, the most recent time in 2006 where he lost in the primary. The 51st seat represents the border region of California, including a portion of San Diego County and all of Imperial County.
Staff Writer Elizabeth Varin can be reached at evarin@ivpressonline.com or 760-337-3441.
Vargas, D-San Diego, said he wants to run for Rep. Bob Filner’s seat in 2012, as Filner is planning a run for the San Diego mayor position. Vargas announced his intentions the day after Filner opened a campaign for the 2012 election.
With no one else yet announcing their intention for the congressional seat up for election in 2012, it’s a “natural progression” for the area state senator to move up to Congress, Vargas said.
“The reason’s very clear,” he said. “There’s going to be an empty seat.”
He added he thinks he has a good chance in the running. Nobody else has really put forth their interest in the position, and he’s been a longtime representative of the San Diego area.
Vargas said he’s also gotten to know the Imperial Valley well, making connections that scored him a big win from the area last year.
Vargas has previously served as state assemblyman for a portion of the San Diego area from 2000 to 2006 and on the San Diego City Council from 1993 to 2000. He was elected in November for the state Senate’s 40th district seat, which includes portions of San Diego and Riverside counties and all of Imperial County.
Vargas had previously run for the 51st congressional seat against Filner, the most recent time in 2006 where he lost in the primary. The 51st seat represents the border region of California, including a portion of San Diego County and all of Imperial County.
Staff Writer Elizabeth Varin can be reached at evarin@ivpressonline.com or 760-337-3441.
