We’ve all been so hung up on the 2016 presidential election that we’ve barely even noticed that California has an open U.S. Senate seat for the first time in over 20 years. Senator Barbara Boxer — sort of the Nancy Pelosi of her day, in terms of her ability to raise Republican blood pressure — is retiring this year, meaning that California will soon send a new junior Senator to Washington, D.C.

This fact might be more interesting if everyone didn’t already know what will happen, more or less. Our new senator will be either one or the other of two prominent Democratic candidates: Rep. Loretta Sanchez or state Attorney General Kamala Harris. The chances of a Republican winning a Senate seat in California, in the year 2016, are as close to nil as can be imagined. Infinitesimal. 

The only interesting possible outcome in this race would be if Sanchez and Harris end up the two highest vote-getters in the June primary, and so are forced to run against each other in November. This is a possibility under California’s newish first-two-past-the-post primary system, in which the top two vote-getters in June, regardless of party, go on to compete against each other in November’s general election. Such a thing would only be possible if Republican voters fail to coalesce around eight doomed D-listers currently running as a candidate from their own party. (To be a Republican in a statewide election is to automatically be a D-lister.)

You might think that the smart Republican strategy would be to simply step back and keep powder dry, letting different factions of the state Democratic party tear one another limb from limb for a few months. If it didn’t actually damage the Democrats, it would at least be a morale-booster. But no: Apparently the people who are in this thing from the (R) side are in it to win it. Poor saps.

Step forward, Republican aspirant Duf Sundheim! Today this Silicon Valley-based attorney, a former chair of the state Republican Party, some sort of kazillionaire we are assuming, releases a cavalcade of new endorsements for his melancholy-inducing effort to take his seat in Boxer’s chair. 

The email we received earlier today teaches us three things of note:

• The man’s name is “Duf.”
• There is a mayor of a major California city named “Swearengin” — which, though spelled slightly differently, is presumably pronounced the same as her illustrious predecessor in politics from the Dakota territories.
• Our own Rex Bohn is on the Duf train!

All right, Duf! You got our attention! let’s do this thing!

DUF! DUF! DUF!

Here is the press release from Duf’s people:

Palo Alto, Calif. (February 9, 2016) – Following on the heels of Rocky Chavez’ withdrawal from the U.S. Senate race, Duf Sundheim announced a cascade of endorsements.  

Highlights:  

• Decorated war veteran General William Lyon has agreed to serve as the Campaign’s Honorary Chair 
• Congresswoman Mimi Walters announced her support
• Republican State Senate Leader Jean Fuller endorsed Duf
• One of the largest donor groups in the country, the Lincoln Club of Northern California, announced its support and made a maximum contribution
• The 203,000-member California Small Business Association announced their endorsement 
• Local elected officials from across California including Humboldt County Supervisor Rex Bohn; Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren; San Pablo Mayor Rich Kinney; San Jose City Councilman Johnny Khamis and Morgan Hill School Board member Gino Borgioli all announced their endorsement.

These endorsements follow the recent announcements that two of the highest ranking elected Republicans in California, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin had endorsed Duf.

“We so appreciate the outpouring of support from such a broad spectrum.  From former Cabinet officials to the second highest ranking member of the U.S. Congress to local school board members; from international business leaders to local business people, our campaign is truly blessed.  

“While I so appreciate such support, I want every Californian to know their dreams, their concerns are just as important to me as anyone else’s.  And over the next six years I will show you just how much you mean to me.”

Duf Sundheim has a strong record of getting things done.  He played a key role in the only successful recall of a Governor in California history.  Duf took on the national and California establishment to institute the most significant changes in the California election system in decades.  He took on powerful interests in San Jose to implement important pension and education reforms.  Duf and his family reside in northern California.