Vulnerable California Republican Congressmen Jeff Denham, David Valadao, and Steve Knight having been working very hard to distance themselves from Donald Trump by keeping quiet since he became the presumptive nominee.
But that effort took a major hit today when Greg Walden, the head of the NRCC, endorsed Trump. The head of the organization that is responsible for helping the three California Republicans navigate this very difficult election environment has now hitched the Republican House effort to Donald J. Trump.
Clearly, Walden has come to terms with a reality that he warned of months ago, that Trump’s rhetoric “puts, certainly, competitive seats in jeopardy” and that the NRCC Deputy Chair Stivers warned, “would be devastating to our attempts to grow our majority and would cost us seats.”
Denham and Valadao have previously said they’d support the nominee, but have gone radio silent since Trump became the presumptive nominee. Trump remains Knight’s nightmare, and he is still “working on figuring out what [he is] going to do…”
“Denham, Valadao, and Knight can’t be happy that their own campaign committee is now firmly on Team Trump. No matter how hard they try, there is no escaping the fact that they will share the ticket with Trump and all the dangerous and offensive positions he takes,” said Barb Solish of the DCCC.