‘Impeachment circus’: Harder and Pelosi ripped by GOP candidate in District 10
Ted Howze, a Republican candidate in the 10th Congressional District, does not think the impeachment proceedings against President Trump are a factor in the upcoming elections.
Howze estimated he’s talked with 25,000 residents and impeachment is the seventh or eighth issue among voters in the farm-belt district, which includes Stanislaus County and the southern part of San Joaquin County. Residents are more concerned about the cost of living, health care and prescription drug costs and secure borders, the candidate suggested.
“It’s crystal clear that the far-left majority in Congress have stopped working for the American people, so that they can conduct a made-for-TV partisan impeachment circus,” Howze proclaimed at a rally Thursday outside freshman Congressman Josh Harder’s district office in north Modesto.
Central Valley Impact Republicans held the rally attended by 25 supporters. Participants held signs reading “End impeachment circus” and “Do your job Harder.”
The impeachment hearings concern allegations that Trump misused his presidential powers by pressuring Ukraine’s president to conduct an investigation that ultimately would hurt former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign for the presidency in 2020.
An ABC News poll last month found that half of Americans disapprove of Democrats’ handling of the impeachment inquiry. Only 34 percent thought Trump has responded well to the allegations, but it’s not certain how the current hearings will influence the presidential or congressional races next year.
Attempts to oust Trump could serve to energize conservative voters in the Central Valley. Other hopefuls in District 10 include Republicans Robert Elliott of Tracy and Marla Livengood and Democrats Ryan Blevins and Michael Barkley.
Howze called the impeachment hearings in Washington a self-serving partisan exercise. He claimed that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Adam Schiff and Harder are so engrossed in impeachment that “nothing is getting done” for constituents in the Central Valley.
In attempting to connect Harder with the impeachment drive, Howze noted that Harder has accepted campaign donations from Schiff.
“It’s time for them to pack up their circus tent and move on,” Howze said. “America deserves better.”
Following the rally, a spokesman for Harder said the congressman “is of course concerned about the president’s abuse of power,” but Harder is not on the impeachment committees and has not been outspoken about the hearings.
“Josh has spent the last couple weeks trying to get this administration to stop blocking health care for Vietnam vets and just announced a $250,000 federal investment for Stanislaus State (University),” said Ian Lee, a spokesman for Harder.
Howze, a veterinarian and former Turlock city councilman, created a sensation with his third-place finish in the 2018 primary, some 3,000 votes behind Harder, who went on to upset Republican incumbent Jeff Denham that November.
Central Valley Impact Republicans is rallying behind Howze because of his chances of taking the seat back in 2020, spokesman David Cushman said.
Howze criticized the Democrats for not addressing issues like health care, which presumably turned the district blue in 2018.
Howze has endorsements from eight of the nine mayors in Stanislaus County and support from other community leaders in the district.
What’s important to valley farmers, Howze said, is a new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada. He said the proposed USMCA agreement would provide a better future for family farms and people who work in agriculture. But it is stalled in Congress “while impeachment consumes every minute,” Howze said.
Jennifer Bilbrey of Tracy, who attended the rally Thursday, said she mostly hopes to prevent election fraud in California’s primary in March and the November election but agreed the impeachment hearings are a turnoff. She doubted, however, she could find much common ground with Demos in a discussion of other issues.
This story was originally published December 5, 2019 at 3:52 PM.
