Compton Mayor Aja Brown has ended her challenge to Rep. Nanette Barragan (CA-44) because she is pregnant with her first child.
“To date, one of my highest honors has been dedicating my time and life to serving my community,” said Brown, like Barragan, a Democrat. “However, at this point in my life, my family commitments supersede my ability to expand my level of service.”
There was no immediate response to an email sent to Barragan Thursday night seeking comment.
Brown announced her candidacy March 8, saying “our community deserves an experienced representative that has served in our neighborhood and understands our issue and is committed to real progress.”
Barragan was a member of the Hermosa Beach City Council before being elected to Congress. Hermosa Beach is outside the 44th Congressional District. Brown has been mayor of Compton, which is in the district, since 2013.
Brown’s announcement leaves one active challenger to Barragan, businesswoman Jazmina Saavedra, a Republican.
Actress and news analyst Stacey Dash, a Republican, filed to run, but announced on Friday she was ending her campaign, saying “the overall bitterness surrounding our political process, participating in the rigors of campaigning and holding elected office would be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of my family.”
Democrats hold a 61 percent – 10 percent registration advantage over Republicans, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
