Dave Min Statement On Scott Baugh Denigrating 9/11 Victims and Military Veterans
Irvine, CA – This morning, the Huffington Post reported on a video of Scott Baugh recently stating that “woke-ism” is the greatest threat we’ve faced as a nation: “We survived civil wars, World War II, World War I, a lot of wars, 9/11. None of those were that threatening to our country compared to the war that we’re fighting now. That war is about wokism….” Baugh, who lost to Katie Porter in last cycle’s contest for the seat, is likely to face State Senator Dave Min in the general election for CA-47.
“Scott Baugh’s comments are despicable and denigrate the memories of the 2,996 Americans who died during the September 11 attacks,” said Senator Dave Min. “They also reflect an extremist and un-American ideology that is more suited to the backwaters of Q-Anon chatrooms than the halls of Congress. When September 11 occurred, I was a third year law student in the Boston area, where two of the hijacked flights originated. This was a defining moment for all Americans. Many of my friends and classmates went into the military or public service after those horrific terrorist attacks, to try to honor the memory of those who perished. 9/11 was a big part of the reason I chose to begin my career at the Securities and Exchange Commission, prosecuting financial crimes. For Baugh to outrageously state that “woke-ism” is worse than 9/11, both World Wars, and the Civil War, illustrates his total contempt for our military veterans and for protecting the safety and security of the American people.”
The comment spells disaster for the Baugh campaign, who faces an uphill battle next November in Dave Min. Dave was called to service in the aftermath of the events of September 11–he joined the SEC after graduating from Harvard Law School, before serving as a policy advisor to Sen. Chuck Schumer, and then policy director at the Center for American Progress. As a State Senator for California’s 37th District, Dave has been a consistent vote for veterans. He wrote SB 763, which builds on existing law to allow PTSD and other mental health conditions arising from military service to be considered in sentencing of veterans and active military, and was passed unanimously in 2021.
“The choice in this election is clear: a candidate who stands for unity and service to our country, or one who espouses extreme views that do not reflect the values of Orange County,” said Min campaign Manager Dan Driscoll. “Voters want someone like Dave Min – a dedicated public servant who has worked tirelessly for Orange County, advocating for policies that will improve healthcare, protect the environment, and promote economic opportunity for all residents.”
California’s 47th is widely seen as one of the most competitive seats in the country. Incumbent Rep. Katie Porter defeated Scott Baugh last year by just over 3%. Baugh is the likely Republican nominee, and will face Porter’s pick in Dave Min next November, during a cycle where the national GOP has declared CA-47 their top target. But Dave Min is no stranger to tough races. He currently represents over 80% of the 47th Congressional District in the State Senate, and won CA-47 during that election by over 5% in 2020, a tough year for Orange County Democrats, defeating a long-time Republican icon who was thought to be unbeatable. Just after the end of 2023’s first quarter, former Congressman Harley Rouda ended his bid for the 47th, leaving Min as the only Democrat in the race with previous campaign, legislative, or federal policy experience.
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California’s 47th is an open Congressional District in Orange County that includes the Cities of Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Newport Beach, and Seal Beach, and portions of Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, and Laguna Woods. Incumbent Katie Porter is vacating the seat to run for U.S. Senate. In 2022, Porter defeated former Assemblymember Republican Scott Baugh by 3.44% in this “toss-up” district. State Senator Dave Min currently represents over 80% of Congressional District 47 in Sacramento. In 2020, Min received over 158,000 votes within CA-47, defeating incumbent John Moorlach by 5.15%. 19% of the registered voters in CA-47 are of Asian and Pacific Islander descent, including one of the largest Korean-American populations in the country.