In a startling turn of events, Democratic U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey today announced her endorsement of Assemblyman Mark Leno in District 3 after endorsing incumbent state Senator Carole Migden earlier in the same primary campaign.

But a spokesperson for Woolsey told PolitickerCA.com that she was not withdrawing her support form Migden. Rather she is offering a “co-endorsement.”

“As the race tightens, Congresswoman Woolsey believes that the number one priority is ensuring that the district continues to be represented by a progressive voice in Sacramento.  While Lynn continues to support Senator Migden, she believes that Mark Leno has the experience and vision needed to bring about the kind of change that Marin and Sonoma voters are looking for,” said Woolsey spokesman Chris Shields.

Woolsey’s endorsement is seen as particularly crucial in the race for Migden’s seat, as most of Woolsey’s Congressional district, which spans the Marin and Sonoma counties, sits in District 3.

"Mark Leno has built a strong record on behalf of the issues the people of my district care deeply about.  I am proud to announce my support for him today," said Woolsey.  "We can count on Mark to go to Sacramento and provide progressive leadership on the issues we all care about—a cleaner and more sustainable environment, universal, single-payer health care, better schools and access to affordable higher education." 

Leno, Migden, and Joe Nation, a former member of the assembly, are competing in a June 3 Democratic primary. Political observers widely see Migden, who was elected to the senate in 2004, in a political free-fall after a year of personal problems. Woolsey’s endorsement of Leno is likely to reinforce the sentiment that Migden is no longer competitive.

Leno and Nation have been left to fight it out, with the two candidates, from San Francisco and Marin, respectively, aiming to steal from one another’s geographic bases. In a statement today, Leno raced to use the Woolsey endorsement to boost his standing in the Marin area.

"Congresswoman Woolsey's unwavering, progressive principles and steadfast leadership in Congress have proven invaluable to the families of Marin and Sonoma Counties," said Leno.  "I am deeply honored by the faith and trust Congresswoman Woolsey has in me to represent the progressive democratic values of the North Bay in the State Senate.  I look forward to partnering with her and working together on the challenging issues we face."

Nation adviser Jim Ross, however, said the Woolsey endorsement of Leno was unsurprising, given that Nation ran against Woolsey when she first sought her Congressional seat in 1992 and ran a primary challenge against her in 2006.

“Our campaign continues to add hundreds of supporters every day. I don’t think it’s surprising that Lynn would support Mark, given that Joe has run against Lynn before,” said Ross.

Ross, pointing to Woolsey’s support from female voters in the area, also said that Woolsey’s endorsement of Leno would have the effect of freeing up female voters who had supported Migden but would now be more amenable to the native Nation.