Story by Terell Wright
In North Carolina, Edwards ended his re-election bid earlier this month after the Ethics Committee said the lawmaker engaged in “persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers” and recommended that the House vote to censure him.
Last week, GOP state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom was picked to replace Edwards in the House race. Race rater Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball downgraded the GOP’s chances of holding the district to “tossup” from “leans Republican.”
Gomez was the latest lawmaker to face a probe. On Monday, the Ethics Committee said it was investigating allegations that he engaged in sexual misconduct, including “inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer.” Gomez said that he “made personal mistakes outside my marriage” but called his actions consensual and said they didn’t violate ethics rules.
Under California’s election rules in which the top two primary finishers advance regardless of party, he will face another Democrat, Angela Gonzales-Torres, in the November race.
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