Beaten in Primary, Setencich Considers Write-in Candidacy

Assemblyman Brian Setencich of Fresno, defeated in a stunning Republican primary election upset, says he is strongly leaning toward a write-in candidacy to retain his seat this fall.

But there is no certainty he will remain a Republican if he is elected in a write-in candidacy, which carries no party affiliation, Setencich said after a brief address to the state conference of the Reform Party over the weekend.

“I haven’t decided,” he told reporters on Saturday. “You’re running unaffiliated, you kind of break all the political bounds. . . . I’m a populist. I might represent everybody regardless of their party affiliation. I might stay unaffiliated.”

Setencich added, “I’m doing everything I would normally do if I was running now.”

Setencich angered fellow Republicans last year when he became an ally of Republican Doris Allen of Orange County, elected speaker of the Assembly with the backing of Democrats. When she was recalled from office, Setencich forged a similar pact with Democrats and served as speaker until January, when he was dumped by the Republican majority.

In the March 26 primary, conservative Republicans poured more than $230,000 into the campaign of a little-known GOP challenger, Robert Prenter. Prenter’s victory was considered the major upset of the primary election.

Because no Democrat ran, Prenter’s primary victory is tantamount to election, if there is no write-in challenge.