Is Issa really in trouble?

Is Congressman Darrell Issa really in trouble after squeaking through the primary election earlier this month?

Just two and a half years after being on top of the political world, Issa is in one of the toughest political fights of his 15-year career, according to his hometown paper, after advancing to the general election with just 51.5 percent of the vote.

Political handicappers have downgraded his race from Safe Republican to Likely Republican and Republican’s voter registration advantage in the district has dipped with the rise of Trump (who Issa endorsed).

But Issa’s camp isn’t worried, noting that while the race was close, it still ended with Issa on top — a forecast of what’s to come.

“While the election night number was what it was, I think a longer look at the whole story shows that we withstood — rather than were walloped by — the registration surge, heavy Dem turnout and no competitive GOP race,” said Issa spokesman Jonathan Wilcox.

CalWatchdog has more. 

In other news:

• About that Trump endorsement: At an event in San Diego yesterday, Issa said he’d like to have a “re-do” of the entire primary process where Trump wasn’t the nominee. The San Diego Union-Tribune has more. 

• The Dalai Lama brought a message of peace to Sacramento on Monday, telling lawmakers: “The best way to take care of one’s self is to take care of others.” The Los Angeles Times has more. 

• Even though they haven’t officially qualified for the November ballot yet, 10 would-be initiatives are stockpiling money and preparing for war. The Sacramento Bee has more. 

• “California lawmakers are putting the finishing touches on a plan to provide up to $2 billion to help cities build permanent shelters to get mentally ill people off the street,” writes the AP/Capital Public Radio.

Assembly:

• Full slate of committee hearings. 

Senate:

• Full slate of committee hearings.

Gov. Brown: 

• No public events scheduled.

Tips: matt@calwatchdog.com

Follow us: @calwatchdog @mflemingterp

New followers: @grahamdude @nwconservative

Good morning! 

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama will speak to the Legislature today about ethical leadership, the environment and compassion.

His address starts at 1 p.m. and can be streamed here.

In other news:

• One of the most surprising stories from the primary election earlier this month is that Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, is in the race of his 15-year career. While he’s expected to retain his seat against an underfunded and unknown candidate, “who knows” is the only way to describe this presidential cycle. The San Diego Union-Tribune has more. 
• “Two weeks after lawmakers rejected the proposal, an effort to create new overtime pay rules for California farmworkers has reappeared in the Legislature,” writes the Los Angeles Times. The Times also looks at where the budget, passed last week, addressed and failed to address certain issues. 

• “The El Niño-fueled storms that coated the Sierra with nearly normal snow this winter brought blasts of hope to drought-weary California,” but “after the flurries stopped and the seasons changed, the melt-off from the high country has been swift and disappointingly scant,” reports SF Gate. 

• “Did bullet train officials ignore warning about need for taxpayer money,” asks the Los Angeles Times.

Assembly:

• Joint session with Dalai Lama at 1 p.m. Multiple committee hearings. 

Senate: 

• Joint session with Dalai Lama at 1 p.m. Several committee hearings. 

Gov. Brown:

• No public events scheduled.

Tips: matt@calwatchdog.com

Follow us: @calwatchdog @mflemingterp

New followers: @LauraLiterally @civilmeasure