In a kind of micro-replay of the last presidential election, Hillary Clinton and President Donald Trump sounded off this week on the hotly contested 25th Congressional District in northern L.A. County.
Clinton endorsed Christy Smith for a highly prized Los Angeles County congressional seat, ending a week’s worth of twitter spars that saw President Trump slam Smith for a comment about her GOP opponent’s military past.
The former senator’s supportive tweet posted Friday morning, inside two weeks before a May 12 special election in which Smith, a Democrat, faces off with Republican Mike Garcia to represent the district.
“There’s a key special election coming up in California on May 12, and I’m happy to support @ChristyforCA25. Christy has been an effective public servant from the school board to the CA Assembly, and we need her in Congress. Help her protect this seat! https://www.christyforcongress.org.”
There’s a key special election coming up in California on May 12, and I’m happy to support @ChristyforCA25.
Christy has been an effective public servant from the school board to the CA Assembly, and we need her in Congress.
Help her protect this seat! https://t.co/5wzotXH5r0
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) May 1, 2020
It came a day after Trump offered up a second tweet endorsement in a matter of two weeks for Garcia — while slamming Smith. A day earlier, Smith had apologized for a comment made during a recent interview about Garcia that critics say trivialized his military experience.
“Vote @MikeGarcia2020 by May 12th! His opponent @ChristyforCA25 voted to fire teachers, and cut their salaries while bumping up her pay. Now she’s mocking our Great Vets! We need Navy Fighter Pilot Mike Garcia in #CA25!” he said in the tweet.
Trump’s tweet was in response to a moment Saturday during a livestream video spot for the organization Indivisible, which advocates for progressive policies.
Smith, a Democratic lawmaker who represents the 38th State Assembly District, was speaking with supporters about Garcia’s time as a Navy fighter pilot. The discussion turned to a townhall virtual forum sponsored by the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce held the day before.
During the video forum, both candidates were seated in their respective offices, the walls behind them clearly visible. Smith said: “I texted my team, and I’m like, ‘OK, he’s got pictures of planes behind him. I’ve got constitutional law books’ — the irony … ”
Republicans accused Smith of mocking Garcia’s Navy experience.
On Wednesday, Smith took to Twitter to apologize. “Without question, I have the deepest respect and appreciation for Mike Garcia’s service to our country, and I am sorry for any comments that I made that might suggest otherwise,” she said, noting her own family’s “tradition” of military service.
Critics were not pleased with the apology.
— Christy Smith (@ChristyforCA25) April 29, 2020
“After denigrating Mike Garcia’s military service, it took FIVE DAYS for Christy Smith to apologize for anything she “might” have said that was offensive,” said Torunn Sinclair, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, in a statement. “What a heartfelt apology! Did she even give Mike Garcia – a combat veteran – the courtesy of a phone call? Or was posting on social media for her followers enough in her opinion.”
Others thanked Smith for apologizing, including one comment on Twitter that described it as taking “the high road.”
Trump’s Tuesday tweet did not go without a response from Smith on the Twitter battleground:
“Donald Trump has lied to the American people over 18,000 times. Now he’s lying about me and my record. I’m the Democrat running against this mini version of Trump.”
Donald Trump has lied to the American people over 18,000 times. Now he's lying about me and my record. I'm the Democrat running against this mini version of Trump. Follow us, join our campaign, retweet, and please make a contribution here: https://t.co/xnGjtsDtTV
— Christy Smith (@ChristyforCA25) May 1, 2020
Trump’s tweet was apparently in reference to Smith’s days as a local school board member, in the midst of the Great Recession, when the board had to rein in the district’s expenses.
Meanwhile, the May 12 special election rapidly approaches, and mail-in ballots are already being returned.
The district includes more than 400,000 voters, from the northern tip of the San Fernando Valley to Simi Valley to the Antelope Valley.
The seat was left vacant by Katie Hill, when she resigned in October amid a scandal sparked by alleged and confirmed relationships with staffers.
What was considered a relative shoo-in for the Democrats has become a toss-up, and a highly watched race on the national scene, offering a taste of voter attitudes going into November’s general election. The May 12 special election will fill the seat until Hill’s term was to end in January. The two will run-off again in November for a fresh two-year term in Congress.
Both candidates have emphasized their years of experience handling money — Smith in elected roles from school board member to assemblywoman, and Garcia, as a business executive.
Last week, President Donald Trump endorsed Garcia, tweeting praise for him for being “Strong on Crime, the Border, and Second Amendment.” That added to a list that includes mayors who lead a cluster of district cities.
Smith, who represents the overlapping 38th State Assembly district, trumpeted her support has come from such backers as L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and Reps. Adam Schiff and Nancy Pelosi, and from leaders from the area’s schools.
Smith has raised $1.89 million in total contributions as of the freshest Federal Election Commission update, ending March 31. And Garcia has raised $1.78 million in contributions.
And both parties together have poured more than $2 million into a robust TV ad blitz in recent weeks.