Former Rep. Harley Rouda has dropped out of the race for California’s 47th congressional district on the advice of his doctors.
The Laguna Beach Democrat, who launched a 2024 bid for the seat in January, fell late last month, he said on April 11, and suffered a moderate traumatic brain injury. Rouda was treated at a hospital, he said, and had two intraparenchymal hemorrhages, a brain bleed — “a concerning diagnosis to say the least,” Rouda said.
“Thankfully, my doctors say that I have started on the path to a full recovery,” Rouda said. “But on their advice, I am ending my campaign for California’s 47th congressional district today. This is not the outcome I wanted. But my family comes first, and to be there for them, I need to focus fully on my recovery in the months ahead.”
Rouda, who said he would focus on the climate crisis if voters send him back to Congress, was first elected to represent Orange County in 2018, defeating longtime GOP Rep. Dana Rohrabacher. He served a single term, losing his reelection bid in 2020 to Republican Rep. Michelle Steel.
His campaign recently announced that it had raised more than $1.25 million in the first quarter.
Rouda, 61, jumped into the CA-47 race in Jan. 11, just one day after Rep. Katie Porter launched a U.S. Senate bid.
“I’m sending condolences to Harley, Kaira and the entire Rouda family during this difficult time,” Porter said. “I wish him a thorough recovery.”
The race for CA-47 includes several candidates, including state Sen. Dave Min, community organizer Joanna Weiss and former GOP Assembly leader Scott Baugh.
“Jane and I want to send Harley, Kaira, and the whole Rouda family good thoughts and prayers,” Min said. “Knowing the fighter that Harley is, I have no doubt that he will have a full and speedy recovery. I want to thank Harley for his public service, his decency and patriotism.”
Calling him a “personal friend,” Weiss also expressed her well-wishes for the…
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