OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 8:58 AM PT — Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Former Representative Darrell Issa is looking to get back to the lower chamber, which may come at another Republican’s expense. On Tuesday, Issa confirmed he will likely run for the seat currently held by congressman Duncan Hunter.
The Republican said he only plans to do so if he’s not confirmed to a trade post in the Trump administration. Issa was nominated by President Trump to be director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. However, his nomination has yet to be taken up by the Senate.
This comes after Representative Hunter was indicted in 2018 for allegedly misusing hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds.
FILE – In this Dec. 7, 2018 file photo Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., speaks to reporters as he leaves a House Judiciary and Oversight Committee closed-door interview on Capitol Hill in Washington. Issa has taken a step toward challenging U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter for a Southern California seat. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta,File)
Issa retired in 2018 after serving his district for 18 years, but is now eyeing a return.
“It’s really all about the schedule…we have a candidate in Duncan Hunter, who I serve with and I served with his father, who there is nothing wrong with his voting, but he is injured in a way in which he — according to most polls I’ve seen — he cannot win reelection,” Issa explained. “And as a Republican I don’t want to lose a seat that is clearly a seat that we need to have to get back to the majority.
Five Republicans have announced a primary challenge to Hunter. Issa is waiting until November 3, 2019 for the Senate to take up his confirmation before launching his congressional bid.
