Darrell Issa (R-CA) smirks during a House Oversight Committee meeting.

I know what you’re thinking. Out of the esteemed excrement that makes up the 114th Congress, which congressman could plausibly take the title of “America’s Worst Congressman.” I submit to you: Darrell Issa of California’s 49th Congressional District.



Let’s talk about Darrell Issa.



Darrell Issa has made multiple appearances on CREW’s (Citizens for Responsible Ethics in Washington) “Most Corrupt” list. Reasons for his humble nomination include breaking federal law by entering sealed information into the Congressional record in his attempt to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt.



Then there was the New York Times expose in 2011 that investigated the overlap of Issa’s business and political lives. The Times noted that, “ [while] most wealthy members of Congress push their financial activities to the side, with many even placing them in blind trusts to avoid appearances of conflicts of interest ... Mr. Issa (pronounced EYE-suh), one of Washington’s richest lawmakers, may be alone in the hands-on role he has played in overseeing a remarkable array of outside business interests since his election in 2000.” Among other things, Issa regularly buys commercial properties in his district which he then secures federal earmarks for public works and road repair projects to improve the area around those properties. Already Washington’s richest Congressional member, Issa’s minimum wealth doubled from 2010-2011 to an astounding $725 million amidst his mixed financial and political dealings. Reports of dealings like this are not uncommon for Issa.



But there is hope. Despite representing a notoriously red part of Southern California, Issa can be beat. He has never dipped below 58% in his 8 terms in Congress, but due to redistricting his district dropped from a PVI+10 to PVI+4. Obama carried the 49th in 2008 by 1 point, and observers note that Democrats have been making gains in registration since then.



So how is it that Darrell Issa may have finally met his match?



Enter Doug Applegate, Iraq War veteran and retired Marine Colonel.

Colonel Doug Applegate (retired) during his combat tour in Iraq.

Despite running a barebone campaign with little staff and cash, Applegate surprised national political operatives by drawing Issa to a narrow 51-45 in the June primary (an Independent 3rd candidate drew 4%). This is Issa’s lowest performance in an election. Ever.



A combination of factors likely led to the close contest. High turnout for a contested Democratic primary and the fact that Applegate is a retired Marine Colonel in a district with one of the largest Marine bases in the country (Camp Pendelton). In the days since the June primary, resources have begun to line up behind Applegate.



If Applegate has the resources in order to continue to make inroads with the substantial veteran population in the 49th (who are mostly No Party Preference and Republicans) and Trump is as unpopular in suburban districts like the 49th as Democrats think he’ll be— Applegate could very well could unseat America’s Worst Congressman in November.



Please join me in donating to Doug’s campaign here (and please send the link to your friends!).



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