Pombo loses his bid for eighth term

With nearly all of the vote counted, Democrat Jerry McNerney held a 53 percent to 47 percent lead in California's 11th Congressional District, which includes much of San Joaquin County and portions of Contra Costa, Alameda and Santa Clara counties.

Though political observers rated the contest a toss-up before Election Day, a McNerney victory came as a surprise because Republican voters constitute a plurality in the 11th Congressional District.

Two years ago, Pombo defeated McNerney by 22 percentage points. But since then, a number of controversies have converged to complicate Pombo's re-election effort.

Environmental groups were enraged by Pombo's desire to alter the Endangered Species Act and to unleash oil drilling off California's coast. They spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for independent campaigns against the incumbent, who chairs the House Resources Committee.

Pombo, 46, also was hurt by his association with Jack Abramoff, a once-high-flying lobbyist who pleaded guilty to charges of fraud, conspiracy to bribe public officials and tax evasion in a still-unfolding scandal. He also has been a strong supporter of President Bush's Iraq war policies.

McNerney pounded Pombo on those issues in the hope that he could win support from many of the 16 percent of the district's voters who are independents and the third of Republican voters who backed Pombo's main opponent in the June primary, former Rep. Pete McCloskey.

The latest registration figures showed that Republican voters outnumbered Democrats 43 percent to 37 percent in the district.

"The mood of the country has really changed," McNerney said from his election night party in Pleasanton. Voters "are ready for the country to go in another direction."

Pombo, however, has contended that whatever difficulties his re-election drive encountered had little to do with Iraq or Abramoff, and more to do with concerted efforts of environmental groups and other critics who targeted his race.

Pombo insisted he never met or e-mailed Abramoff. Billing statements from the lobbyist's then-employer show Abramoff met and called Pombo in fall 1996. Pombo contends the invoices were falsified.

Pombo accepted $31,250 in campaign donations from Abramoff, his clients and associates over the years. The congressman later donated to charity the $8,250 that was given by Abramoff and an aide.