designer

Democratic

Rep. Harley Rouda announced Tuesday that he will withdraw his bid for a seat in Congress being vacated by Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine) after suffering a traumatic brain injury in a recent fall.

The resident of Laguna Beach said in a statement on social media that as a result of a fall last month he had two intra

parenchymal hemorrhages, which can cause oxygen loss and tissue damage in the brain, and had to be transported to hospital.

Fortunately, my doctors say I’m on my way to a full recovery, Rouda said. But on their advice, today I am ending my campaign for California’s 47th congressional district.

This is not the result I wanted. But my family comes first and to be there for them I need to focus fully on my recovery in the coming months,” he added.

Rouda’s statement came three months after he announced his candidacy in a race that as of Tuesday has drawn at least eight other candidates from both sides of the aisle, including state senator Dave Min (D-Irvine) and former state councilman Scott Baugh. , a Republican.

The seat will become vacant as Porter seeks to replace outgoing U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, who announced in February that she would not run for re-election next year. Her term expires in January 2025.

Rouda, 61, was elected to Congress in 2018 as a representative from the 48th district, but was dismissed in 2020 by Representative Michelle Steel (R-Cypress). Redistribution later took him to the 47th District, which includes Irvine, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, and Laguna Beach.

In a statement released Tuesday, Min and his wife, Jane Stoever, sent

out

Thoughts and prayers for the Roudas family.

“Knowing the fighter that Harley is, I have no doubt he will make a full and speedy recovery,” said Min. “I want to thank Harley for his public service, decency and patriotism.

as Representative Adam Schiff, Katie Porter launch Senate campaigns, the race to replace them begins

Porter offered her own words of comfort in a commentary on Tuesday on Rouda’s Twitter page.

I wish you a thorough recovery and keep you, Kaira and your children in my thoughts, she wrote. Get well soon.

Rouda thanked his supporters and apologized for not being able to fight on.

I love this community and this neighborhood, read his statement on Tuesday. I still believe we need moderates in office who can reach down the aisle and actually do the government work.

“I believe we should choose people who don’t care about antics, props and sound bites, but about the greater good people who are running to actually serve the people who chose them.