This afternoon, Santa Barbara Democratic Rep. Lois Capps announced she would retire at the end of her current term. This isn't a surprise, as her daughter, Democratic communications strategist Laura Capps, recently moved back to Santa Barbara and has been widely expected to seek her mother's seat. Lois Capps first won this seat in a 1998 special election following the death of her husband, Rep. Walter Capps. Laura Capps would begin as the favorite, given her family name and extensive connections. She worked as a speechwriter in the Clinton White House and has worked for several prominent environmental groups. Her husband, longtime operative Bill Burton, ran the most prominent super PAC of the 2012 presidential race. But she won't have the field to herself. Democratic Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider may be interested as well. Lois Capps won reelection with just 52 percent of the vote against a weak GOP candidate in 2014, and GOP Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian may be interested in the open seat. But Democrats will be heavily favored to hold this seat next fall given the presidential

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