State GOP Lawmaker Allen May Jump to Independent : Politics: She was reportedly miffed by caucus treatment during unsuccessful Senate bid.
SACRAMENTO — Assemblywoman Doris Allen of Orange County is weighing the possibility of defecting from the Republican Party and becoming an independent, party insiders said early Monday evening.
Allen, of Cypress, met for nearly two hours late Monday afternoon with Gov. Pete Wilson, who reportedly made an adamant pitch to the longtime GOP lawmaker to remain within the party.
In addition, Allen has requested time today to address the Assembly Republican Caucus, reportedly to discuss her treatment at the hands of GOP leaders during her unsuccessful fight against Assemblyman Ross Johnson (R-Placentia) for the 35th Senate District seat, party insiders said. Her loss in that race reportedly caused a longtime feud with GOP leaders to erupt.
One Republican lawmaker said that GOP leaders grew suspicious about Allen’s intentions after the Democrat-dominated Assembly Women’s Caucus on Monday named her its “Woman of the Year.†The lawmaker said most Republicans assumed it was part of an effort by the Democrats to convince Allen to become an independent.
The status of Allen, who refused to comment late Monday, is particularly pivotal for Republicans because the party is within one vote of capturing control of the Assembly and wresting away the top spot from longtime Speaker Willie Brown.
Allen’s difficulties with Republican leaders boiled over when many members of the GOP caucus backed Johnson in his victory over Allen and former Republican Assemblyman Gil Ferguson of Newport Beach. Johnson now faces a runoff against Democrat Madelene Arakelian on May 9.
During the race, Johnson managed to not only gain the support of his colleagues in the Assembly, but also to freeze much of Allen’s fund-raising base. In the end, he outspent Allen by more than 6 to 1. In addition, Johnson mailed out “hit pieces†that reportedly angered Allen.
One lawmaker said the simmering tensions between Allen and Republican leaders peaked during a meeting in the office of GOP Leader Jim Brulte last Thursday to discuss several bills. The lawmaker said Allen got into a heated exchange with several Republican members of the Rules Committee during the meeting and concluded by questioning why she was a member of the party.
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