U.S. Senate Race in California
Boxer seeks third term, Fiorna hopes to win in upset
In California, one of the hottest races is between two women fighting for the U.S. Senate currently held by Democrat Barbara Boxer. Boxer won the seat in 1992.
Seeking to keep Boxer from serving a third six-year term is Republican candidate Carly Fiorina. Fiorna is the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the computer company Hewlett Packard (HP). She is supported by members of the Tea Party political movement, a group backing many Republican candidates around the nation.
The candidates have opposite views on how to manage California’s continued economic troubles. They have fairly similar views on education and jobs.
“One of the most important things that we could do is to make sure that kids have an opportunity to fulfill their potential,” Fiorina told the Scholastic Kids Press Corps in a recent interview. “That’s why I’m focused on creating more jobs in the state.”
Democrats have criticized Fiorina for firing thousands of employees when she was the CEO of HP. However, Forbes magazine recently declared her one of the most powerful women in the world.
In an interview with Boxer, the Senator also spoke of her plans for improving the education of Californians.
“Education is so crucial because we have to make sure that our young people are getting a good education,” she said. “There’s a [federal] program called ‘Race to the Top’ and we want to make sure California can qualify for that so we get some funding and so we can get some really good programs in there for the kids.”
Currently Senator Boxer is leading in the popularity polls taken by polling companies. Whether or not she wins will greatly affect the balance of power in Washington.
Currently Democrats hold 57 seats in the 100 member Senate. Two Independents usually vote with the Democratic Party, giving Democrats a 59 vote majority. That's one short of the 60 votes needed to block Republican moves to block Democratic legislation.
Sound complicated? Sometimes it is, but mostly it’s all in the numbers. Do you have enough votes to push through controversial legislation? After this election, neither party may have that power.
I'm going to be following this race through Election Day results. Check back here to find out which of these two women will be representing California in the U.S. Senate in January 2011.
PHOTOS: Kid Reporter Mariam El Hasan interviews Republican Senate candidate Carly Fiorna (TOP PHOTO) and later, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, Democrat (BOTTOM PHOTO). Photos Courtesy Mariam El Hasan
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