GOP party insiders share list of up-and-comers

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -California Republicans have uniformly said this week that they're focused for now on helping U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) win the presidency with the state's help.

But that's not to say that the delegation attending this week's Republican National Convention isn't also looking both internally and ahead, for the top up-and-coming party members who could someday be the party's representative in the governor's house or the U.S. Senate.

When asked, here are some of the names party insiders mention as possible future GOP stalwarts from California:

Meg Whitman: The former eBay CEO  got a convention audience Wednesday when she spoke at the convention about McCain's approach to economic issues. Some also said she was on the short list of potential vice presidential nominees for McCain. A Long Island native who made a fortune in Silicon Valley, she's often mentioned as a possible gubernatorial candidate in 2010.

Steve Poizner: Other than Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner is the only statewide elected official, and he confirmed this week that he's also interested in a gubernatorial run in 2010, when Schwarzenegger is termed out. Though considered a moderate like Whitman, he's attracted notice from party members for his effort to defeat term-limits reform Proposition 93 earlier this year and commitment to helping pass Proposition 11, redistricting reform, in November.

Jeff Denham: The moderate state senator was already in headlines earlier this year when he beat back a recall attempt engineered by state Senate Pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland). Representing a largely agricultural district that favors Democrats in registration, Denham is termed out in 2010 but has plans to run for lieutenant governor then.

Abel Maldonado: The state senator from California's Central Coast also had a convention speaking gig, and comes from an ethnic background with moderate stances, areas where some say state Republicans need to deepen their bench. He's running for re-election this year against third-party opposition, but raising money like someone observers think has an eye on statewide office down the road.

Mimi Walters: A state senator from Republican-leaning Orange County, Walter is liked by her colleagues and has a background in both business and local government, serving on the Laguna Nigel City Council as a member and mayor. Expected to win re-election this year, she could take a look at statewide office in 2012, when she would be termed out.

Michelle Park Steel: On the state Board of Equalization since 2006, Steel is the highest-ranking Korean-American officeholder in the country. Married to former party chairman Shawn Steel, Park could represent her Republican-leaning district until 2014.

Peter Foy: A Ventura County supervisor since 2007, Foy represents a suburban area in Southern California. One party member said Foy has been approached several times to run for higher office in future years.

Bonnie Garcia: Though termed out this year from an Assembly seat in southeastern California with higher Democratic registration, she's already filed an intention to run for state Senate District 40 in 2010. Also has a moderate voting record and a personal story of overcoming a life in urban poverty.