Mai, oh Mai
Mai Khanh Tran announced she will challenge Ed Royce on Monday. While she may talk up her background outside of politics, she’s already acting like a Beltway politician.
First, the calculating Tran openly admitted to district-shopping for her potential run, settling on California’s 39th District because of a relatively uncrowded Democratic primary field. Just one small issue: she doesn’t live in the district she’s running to represent.
But Tran will have to get past progressive professor Phil Janowicz, a Bernie Sanders supporter, who is already in the race. Tran, who volunteered for Hillary Clinton, will face the same establishment-versus-progressive primary dynamic that continues to plague the Democratic Party.
And as the Orange County Register notes, Royce is a strong candidate and prolific fundraiser, with nearly $3 million in his campaign account.
If Tran thinks she can talk like an outsider but act like an insider, she still has a lot to learn.