Rep. Mark DeSaulnier

CONGRESS | 11TH DISTRICT | East Bay Rep. Mark DeSaulnier says he was diagnosed with leukemia last summer, but the cancer is in remission.

DeSaulnier, who was elected to Congress following a special election last year to replace the retiring George Miller, told the East Bay Times, that he initially contemplated against running for re-election this June.

Aside from a few friends and family, DeSaulnier’s colleagues were unaware and possibly unsuspecting of his condition.

Following a candidate forum on Friday, Rep. Mike Honda said he had no inkling that DeSaulnier was sick. “I fly with him all the time,” said Honda. “I didn’t know anything.”

DeSaulnier told the Los Angeles Times that chemotherapy had aided in removing the cancer from his blood. Even during the health scare, DeSaulnier said he maintained an active lifestyle.

Fortunately for DeSaulnier, re-election should not pose too much stress on his body. DeSaulnier is expected to easily win re-election this year. Concord Republican Roger Petersen is the only candidate in the primary. Under the state’s open primary rules, a rematch is assured in November.

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