California Democrat turns on top candidate for Katie Porter’s seat after apparent DUI lies
Eden Villalovas
Video Embed
California Democrats are calling on the top contender for an open House seat to drop out of the race after police video shows he appeared to lie about how many drinks he had before driving.
State Sen. Dave Min was arrested earlier this month in Sacramento by the state Capitol for driving under the influence. According to police records and unpublished footage acquired by the Washington Free Beacon posted on Monday, Min was driving with a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit.
HOW THE SUPREME COURT COULD BE FORCED TO WADE INTO BIDEN DEBT CEILING FIGHT
Min was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol for driving a government-issued car through a red light without his headlights turned on, according to police reports.
Min registered a blood alcohol level of .15% on the scene, asking the police officer who placed him under arrest how many drinks that typically represents. The officer replied the “easy” math law enforcement uses is saying every drink is .02% or .015%, noting different alcoholic drinks and people’s metabolism play a role in the blood alcohol level results.
Min told police he had “1 Coors & 1 IPA,” according to the arrest report.
Min can be heard saying “I assume this is all going — to the Senate leadership, and all that,” in the police camera footage, to which the officer replies he does not know “how far that’s gonna go up.”
Former Democratic congressman Harley Rouda, who pulled out of the race for Porter’s seat in April, called on Min to drop out of the race, telling his fellow Democrats to join him in calling on Min to “quit the race.” Rouda endorsed Women for American Values and Ethics founder Joanna Weiss, saying, “The stakes are too high to get this choice wrong,” in a statement.
“While we thank Dave Min for his service to the party, with his recent DUI he should immediately withdraw from the race,” Rouda’s statement reads.
Min issued a statement regarding the arrest in a social media post earlier this month, confirming he was cited with a misdemeanor DUI.
“Last night I was cited for a misdemeanor for driving under the influence,” Min wrote on Facebook on May 3. “My decision to drive last night was irresponsible. I accept full responsibility and there is no excuse for my actions. To my family, constituents and supporters, I am so deeply sorry. I know I need to do better. I will not let this personal failure distract from our work in California and in Washington.”
Min is running for Congress to replace outgoing Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) in California’s 47th Congressional District based in Orange County. The liberal politician launched her Senate run for Sen. Dianne Feinstein‘s (D-CA) seat earlier this year, endorsing Min as her successor. Porter stated in her endorsement announcement that Min can be trusted “to keep this critical swing seat blue as we work to take back the House of Representatives in 2024. Dave has proven that he can win in this area while delivering on a progressive agenda with real results.”
Porter has yet to comment on the matter of Min’s DUI arrest, making it unclear if she will continue to back him as her successor.
Min has secured endorsements from prominent California figures, such as Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Attorney General Rob Bonta, California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, and other Democratic supporters, according to his campaign site.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Min raised over $520,000 in the first quarter of 2023, according to an announcement from the state senator on Twitter.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Porter and Min for a comment.