Richardson to face write-in challenge from primary opponent

A former primary challenger to Rep. Laura Richardson (D) has qualified to run as a write-in candidate in the Nov. 4 general election.

Democrat Peter Matthews, who has run multiple times for California’s 37th congressional district seat, said his decision to seek a write-in candidacy was based on his belief that a large percentage of voters were unaware of Richardson’s personal financial troubles before they went to the polls on June 3.

{mosads}Richardson won her first primary as an incumbent member of Congress in June by almost 60 percentage points, beating Matthews 74-17.

The freshman from Long Beach went from obscurity to nearly a household name when news of her multiple home loan defaults, foreclosures and history of unpaid bills made the rounds in California and Washington.

Matthews, a college professor, finished fourth of 11 Democrats running in the July 2007 Democratic special-election primary to succeed the late Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D), which Richardson won.

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In the 2006 Democratic primary, Matthews lost to Millender-McDonald, 76-24.

No Republican filed for the general election.

Richardson’s office did not respond to a request for comment by press time.