Best to stick with the serious candidates, Denham and Eggman

The two most interesting candidates for California’s 10th Congressional District aren’t the ones you should consider voting for, unless you have an affinity for fringe. Robert Hodges and Mike Barkley both have some really out-there ideas – as in out on the fringe.

The most realistic candidates are Republican incumbent Jeff Denham and Democratic challenger Michael Eggman, familiar names. Eggman challenged Denham in 2014 and lost by 13 percentage points. But before we get serious, let’s check in on Barkley & Hodges.

Hodges, 29, is a Denair Unified School Board member running because Jeff Denham is just too darned liberal. He says Trump’s wall is a good start, but after ending federal support for “refugees and illegal immigrants,” he would militarize the southern border by putting U.S. Army bases along it. Not even Trump has suggested the military should protect us from one of our closest neighbors and largest trading partners. Hodges would defund the Department of Education, kill Common Core and gut Planned Parenthood. Really angry? He’s your man.

Barkley is well left of Eggman, which becomes abundantly clear on a website that details hundreds of policy positions. There’s everything from “recognizing Pete Rose” (at Cooperstown or Las Vegas?) to extending hardwood floor tariffs. Under the heading “Water,” Barkley starts with a dispute over Stony Creek (near Red Bluff) and eventually gets to restoring all salmon runs nationwide, including building refrigerated salmon bypass channels. The retired Manteca lawyer would restore Hetch Hetchy Valley and sell water to Nevada.

On June 7, voters must choose just one candidate, but the top two advance to the Nov. 8 general election. We believe Denham and Eggman should be those two.

Denham has been pro-trade and pro-veteran. His vote to deny protection for LGBT workers on federal contracts was wrong, but he refuses to vilify immigrants and he has championed a quicker route to citizenship for those who serve in our military. He’s been consistent – and consistently right – on this issue. He occasionally bucks his party and reaches across the aisle to pass legislation. He’s a moderate conservative in a mixed district.

But many area Republicans aren’t moderate. They embrace Donald Trump’s agenda – kill trade deals, punish bankers, cut taxes on the rich, etc., and will insist down-ballot Republicans endorse their hero.

Denham has been highly adept at recasting himself to suit the political mood – he stood alongside the tea party when popular in 2011; was a moderate in the state Senate in 2005, then turned hard-liner in 2007 – but could find it hard to embrace Trumpism.

That’s because thousands in District 10, which includes all of Stanislaus and part of San Joaquin counties, are registering for the first time – and it’s likely most are intent on voting against Trump and anyone associated with him.

That also explains Eggman’s strategy of portraying Denham as The Donald’s best buddy.

But telling us what’s wrong with Denham (and Trump) is not the same as telling us how you’ll do better. Eggman has no record to stand on because he’s never held elective office. He’s aiming high for a beginner. That bothered us about Eggman two years ago and still does. That said, he is the most credible Democratic candidate.

With Trump certain to be on the ballot in November, we won’t need any additional “characters” to make the election interesting. The Bee recommends voters consider Jeff Denham and Michael Eggman for Congress.

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 2:01 PM with the headline "Best to stick with the serious candidates, Denham and Eggman."