Democrat Bill Monning says he'll run for Sam Blakeslee's Senate seat

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• Educators, teachers endorse Assemblyman Bill Monning

  Educators, teachers endorse Assemblyman Bill Monning

  Assemblyman Bill Monning has picked up the endorsements of numerous state and local educators and teachers in his bid to succeed Sam Blakeslee as the Central Coast’s representative in the California state Senate.

  Monning, a Democrat from Carmel, is the only candidate who has announced his intention to run for the 17th District seat being vacated by Blakeslee, a Republican who is not running for re-election.

  Democrats hold a 17-percentage-point lead in registration over Republicans, and that is a key reason Blakeslee decided not to seek re-election.

• California Nurses Association endorses Democrat for state Senate

  California Nurses Association endorses Democrat for state Senate

  The California Nurses Association has endorsed Democratic Assemblyman Bill Monning for state Senate next year in a newly drawn district, much of which is represented by Republican Sam Blakeslee.

  Monning “has been a dedicated, reliable friend for nurses in California since coming to Sacramento in 2008,” said Malinda Markowitz, co-president of the CNA.

  The CNA adds that Monning has “fought to keep budget cuts from affecting our most vulnerable populations of seniors, students, and those below the poverty line.”

• Democrat State Senate Candidate to meet voters in Los Osos

  Democrat State Senate Candidate to meet voters in Los Osos

  Democratic state Senate candidate Bill Monning will meet voters at the third Margaret Mehring Forum from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at the South Bay Community Center, 2180 Palisades Ave., Los Osos.

  Monning, an assemblyman who is running for the 17th District seat now held by Republican Sam Blakeslee, will be sponsored by the El Moro Democratic Club of Los Osos and its Grassroots Democratic Committee.

  Mehring was a Democratic activist.

• Lois Capps, Bill Monning pick up endorsements from Tri-Counties Central Labor Council

  Lois Capps, Bill Monning pick up endorsements from Tri-Counties Central Labor Council

  State Senate candidate Bill Monning and Rep. Lois Capps, both Central Coast Democrats, have picked up endorsements for next year’s election from the Tri-Counties Central Labor Council.

  Capps is running for reelection in the 24th Congressional District. Republican Abel Maldonado, a former Assemblyman, state senator and lieutenant governor, has announced that he will run against Capps.

  Monning, an Assemblyman, is seeking the 17th District state Senate seat now held by Republican Sam Blakeslee.

• Sam Blakeslee not running for re-election after court decision on California Senate maps

  Sam Blakeslee not running for re-election after court decision on California Senate maps

  State Sen. Sam Blakeslee, R-San Luis Obispo, made it official Friday night that he will not seek another term in the wake of the California Supreme Court decision to uphold the Senate maps drawn last year by an independent redistricting commission.

  The high court announced its unanimous decision that the Senate map drawn by the commission should be used in the June primary and November general election, even though an initiative challenging the map is expected to qualify for the ballot.

  Blakeslee told The Tribune in a December interview that he likely would not seek re-election if the court so ruled because the district map, as drawn, strongly favored Democrats over Republicans in party registration.