San Diego County Supervisor Kristin Gaspar has launched a bid to win the congressional seat held by Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, who is not seeking re-election.
Gaspar, 38, formed an exploratory committee to kick off the campaign with a visit to Washington, D.C. last week in which she met with House Speaker Paul Ryan, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Gaspar joins a crowded slate of Republicans seeking Issa's seat, including State Assemblyman Rocky Chávez, Board of Equalization Member Diane Harkey, San Juan Capistrano Councilman Brian Maryott and patent lawyer Joshua Schoonover.
Numerous Democrats also are running, including Issa's opponent from 2016, Doug Applegate, Attorney Mike Levin, businessman Paul Kerr and Sara Jacobs, the former CEO of an international nonprofit.
The Union-Tribune calls the race "one of the most-watched in this year's midterms after Issa defeated Applegate by 1,621 votes in 2016, the closest margin of any federal race in the country."
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