Clear Difference Between Oropeza & Richardson on Gay Rights

(NOTE: I originally used quotes around the words Clear Daylight in the diary title. To avoid confusion, I've edited it, as I believe the facts presented show there's clear differences between the two candidates - after all, only three years ago Richardson is saying she's against gay marriage, while two years ago Oropeza was the co-author on a bill to authorize gay marriage.).

The 37th district is extremely blue and it's clear whichever of the Democratic favorites wins (Jenny Oropeza or Laura Richardson), she is going to vote the way progressives would want her to vote most of the time. On most issues, they'd vote similarly.

On gay rights, though, there appears to be a clear difference between them:

Kuehl also noted that when Richardson was on the Long Beach City Council, she voted against a resolution to oppose a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

At the time, in 2004, Richardson said she opposed gay marriage.

Oropeza, by contrast, was a co-author of the 2005 bill to allow gay marriage in California. The bill passed both houses of the Legislature but was vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

In a race in which Richardson and Oropeza can be expected to agree far more often than they differ, the gay rights issue appears to create some daylight between them.

If this difference between them is being characterized fairly, I'd say that's reason enough to get off the fence and support Oropeza if gay rights are important to you.

UPDATE: L.B. Press-Telegram reports Oropeza gets endorsement of Democratic Party.

State Sen. Jenny Oropeza won the Democratic Party's endorsement for the 37th Congressional District on Saturday, demonstrating her strength among grassroots activists.

The party's backing is an important stamp of approval in a district dominated by Democratic voters, and could bolster Oropeza's crew of door-knockers and phone bank volunteers.

Oropeza took 119 of the 168 ballots cast by party delegates, or 71 percent, easily reaching the 60 percent threshold needed to win the party's backing.

Assemblywoman Laura Richardson, Oropeza's top rival, trailed with 45 votes in polling of party delegates at a union hall in Gardena.

Not sure if this is the state or national party giving endorsement.

In any case, most of the delegates are from out of the district, as the Richardson campaign points out, so it is not a good representation of the views of district activists or voters. The significance is in the resources which will go to Oropeza as a result - both officially from the party as well as from Democrats for whom this endorsement carries weight.