Chad Condit, the son of former Rep. Gary Condit, who was voted out of office a decade ago after the disappearance of former intern Chandra Levy, is eyeing his own bid for Congress – as an independent.
Condit, 44, has launched website touting himself as the “independent” choice for a Central Valley, an area once known as “Condit Country” when his father was a major political force.
“I understand the political courage it takes for someone to support an independent candidate for Congress,” Condit says on his website. “But to solve the problems we face today, it is a courageous and purposeful mission that we must take together.”
Condit could not be reached for comment Thursday and no campaign filings were available online with the Federal Election Commission. His website says he is running on California’s 10th congressional district, a seat currently held by Republican Rep. Jeff Denham.
Condit told the Independent Voter Network this week that , “I grew up here. I attended elementary school, middle school and high school here. Representing the Central Valley seems like a natural thing to do.”
Condit most recently served as a senior legislative assistant to California Assembly Majority Leader Charles Calderon, a Democrat. But Condit went on leave a few weeks ago, according to Tom White, a Calderon spokesman.
Condit’s father is infamous for his connection to the disappearance of Levy, an intern in his congressional office with whom he is alleged to have had an affair. Levy disappeared in early 2001 and Condit was repeatedly questioned by authorities in the matter. Another man, Ingmar Guandique, was convicted of murdering Levy in 2010.
But the episode cost Condit his seat in Congress; he lost the 2002 Democratic primary to Rep. Dennis Cardoza. Condit’s son had been considering a run for the state Legislature at the time but scrapped his bid amid the media crush.
A decade later, he appears ready to make a go of it for public office– though he’s since left the Democratic Party.
“Regardless of what your name is, the key is going to Washington independent,” he told the Independent Voter Network.
Democrats also hope to contest California’s 10th congressional district, with Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, regularly touting Jose Hernandez, a former astronaut, as one of the party’s top recruits.
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