Dan Lungren

Congressional challenger Bill Durston has received the endorsement of the Alliance for Retired Americans in his bid to unseat 3rd Congressional District Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Gold River).

Durston, a Democrat from Gold River and an emergency room doctor, said his stand on health care was part of what led to the endorsement from the group, which represents 3.5 million people.

Congressional challenger Bill Durston is capitalizing on voter sentiment against Wall Street bailouts in a new campaign commercial airing in the 3rd Congressional District.

In the Democratic candidate's commercial, U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Gold River) is criticized for voting against bills that would have investigated gas-price gouging and to limited payouts to CEOs.

San Ramon Mayor Abram Wilson picked up an endorsement on Wednesday from an overlapping congressional district, with U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Gold River) backing Wilson in his race for the 15th Assembly District

In a press statement, the two-term lawmaker from the 3rd Congressional District said Wilson, a Republican, was the best pick to represent the sprawling 15th Assembly District.

U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Gold River)BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - The Republican Party is energized, and that could translate into a more competitive situation in California, U.S Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Gold River) said on Thursday.

Lungren, a member of the California delegation, said that Wednesday's events at the Republican National Convention showed a Republican Party united and jazzed for November.

For a state that's easily the richest prize of electoral votes in presidential contests, California has rarely been a contender in recent years for selection of a vice presidential candidates.

One has to go back to 1952, when then-U.S. Rep. Richard Nixon was tapped from California to be Dwight D. Eisenhower's vice presidential running mate on the Republican ticket, for the last time a Golden State native was a major party's pick.

Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren believes U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) should look to his biggest rival from the Republican primary when he's considering vice presidential picks.

Lungren (R-Gold River), a California delegate, said former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney would be the best choice to balance the ticket in a way that helps McCain win in November.

State Sen. Tom McClintock (left) and U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren discuss McClintock’s positions at a press conference Wednesday.: Politicker PhotoThe U.S Chamber of Commerce said State Sen. Tom McClintock is their man in the 4th Congressional District race Wednesday, saying his policy positions match what businesses need.

"We're looking for candidates with real economic principles," said John Reid, the chamber's senior director of editorial communications, in a press conference announcing the endorsement at the chamber's Sacramento office.

Throughout the 2008 campaign cycle, PolitickerCA.com will follow campaign finance filings with the Federal Election Commission. Here are stories on the filings reported Tuesday in California's congressional races:

Democratic congressional challenger Bill Durston kept up a respectable fundraising pace in relation to his opponent, incumbent U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Gold River) during the second quarter of 2008.

But Durston, a doctor from Gold River, still faces a large deficit in cash on hand against Lungren in the 3rd Congressional District race.

U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Gold River)U.S Rep. Dan Lungren agreed to debate Democratic challenger Bill Durston Monday night, after Durston publicly challenged him to do so at a town hall meeting held by Lungren in Ione.

Lungren (R-Gold River) objected to Durston's tone in his challenge, in which Durston said Lungren was almost being dishonest in his characterization of why gas prices have risen so high in recent months.

"My question is, when are you going to stop using taxpayer money to speak at events like these and present only one side?" asked Durston, a Gold River emergency room doctor, before Lungren responded.