By Brandy Bailey, Contributor ElectWomen Magazine

 California Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan is heating up the special election in her bid to become the next U.S. Congresswoman representing California’s 10^th Congressional district.  She recently received the endorsements of Emily’s List and the National Women’s Political Caucus. Her team of volunteers has already knocked on over 100,000 doors and in July she posted the largest fundraising numbers of any candidate by raising over $300,000. 

Buchanan decided to run for the seat because she believes that the issues she cares about most are the issues that others care about; the economy, education, and health care.  With her extensive experience in both the public and private sectors she has the financial expertise to help get the country’s economy moving again.  She also wants to use her 18 years of service on the San Ramon Valley School Board to make education a national priority. 

As a member of the San Ramon Valley School Board she used her financial expertise to balance the budget (which had a $7 million dollar deficit when she took office) and helped make it possible for 94% of the district’s graduating seniors to attend college or university.  She also gained a personal and pragmatic point of view on healthcare, when she had to fight with her health insurance company to get care for one of her sons when he had a brain tumor. 

 Buchanan has deep roots in the district, which includes the San Francisco suburbs of Contra Costa, Alameda Solano, and Sacramento counties.  She has raised her five children in the district and helped bring childcare to all of the elementary schools when she was on the school board.  It is that kind of local focus that she wants to take with her when she goes to Congress.

 A Different Kind of Race

This is Buchanan’s 17^th race, however it has been somewhat different from the races she has run in the past.  When she ran for state assembly she competed against seven men who all eventually dropped out.  Her school board campaigns also went smoothly as she was able to point to continuous improvements she had helped make in the district and education improved with every passing year.  But this election has a hotly contested primary, so candidates are competing for limited resources and everyone has to fight for their place. Buchanan hired a consultant to help manage her campaign from the very beginning and encourages anyone considering running for office to do the same.

The primary for this race has been set for September 1^st and the general election will be held November 3^rd.  If you would like more information about Joan Buchanan or to contribute to her campaign, visit her website at http://www.joanbuchanan.com.