Welcome to Peter Hankwitz for Congress

Dear Friends!

I write to thank you for your support, your kind words, and your hard work throughout my campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives.

While the election did not turn out as we had hoped, I am very proud of our accomplishments, and will continue working to advance the interests of my neighbors in this community.

On a positive note, our message resonated with many, many voters. More than 37,000 people agreed with my vision for the San Fernando Valley and the country. Our primary goal has always been to represent the interests of the 27th District in Washington. While winning the election was clearly our objective, I am encouraged that we were able to illuminate the many deficiencies in our congressional representation that need to be addressed.

It is my sincere hope that Congressman Sherman will now heed the message that our campaign was able to send. The Valley deserves a more aggressive champion in Washington and, if he is willing to step up to that role, I am willing to help him in any way I can. However, we cannot and will not accept two more years of business as usual.

I wish to express my gratitude to the many prominent figures and organizations who recognized our efforts to bring positive change to the San Fernando Valley. I am deeply thankful for the endorsements I received from Assemblyman Keith Richman, Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, and U.S. Reps. Jim Kolbe and Darrell Issa, to name a few.

Additionally, the media attention our campaign received is a source of great pride for me. High profile coverage in The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and on Dennis Prager’s nationally syndicated radio show only strengthened my confidence in our message and our ideas.

We must not chalk up yesterday’s results simply to some “national wave of discontent with Republicans.” Some people have expressed to me that California was particularly unkind to the GOP this year. However, we knew it would be an uphill battle for me as a GOP candidate running in a district where there are eight Democrats for every five Republicans, As such, we simply cannot point the finger entirely at anti-GOP sentiment. If anything, “voter apathy” decided my campaign moreso than “voter anger.”

Though voter turnout was strong nationwide, here in the 27th District only 44% of registered voters cast ballots. Despite the tireless work of my campaign volunteers and the talented Victory ‘06 staff, the get-out-the-vote effort was unable to influence the more than 151,000 registered voters who stayed home. As a result, when the votes were counted, we came up 22,705 votes short.

Yesterday was more of a setback than a defeat. I will continue to work hard for the interests of San Fernando Valley, and for a strong, inclusive GOP...


Peter Hankwitz, GOP nominee to the U.S. House in California's 27th District, with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; with California Representative Ed Royce and House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO); and with former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman of It's My Party Too.