Congressional candidate says aide accidentally sent email ending his race citing ‘lack of joy’

Democratic candidate insists he is still in the race for seat in Orange County, California, despite penning the letter

A California candidate for Congress has blamed an aide for sending out an email saying that he was quitting the race in Orange County out of a “lack of joy” - but admitted that he did write it.

“Life is short. I believe one should enjoy their work. For the past four months, I have not enjoyed mine,” Aditya Pai wrote in the email, before announcing that he was in fact quitting.

In the second email titled “Apologies for the scare. I am not going anywhere” Mr Pai, 31, said the first email was sent by a now-former aide accidentally. He, however, said he had written the email.

“I wrote that letter as an emotional processing exercise after an exhausting glimpse into the political machine,” Mr Pai wrote in the second email. “I sent it to some mentors and staff for perspective before getting back to work; it was never supposed to be shared. Now that it was, I see a silver lining in your seeing it.”

Mr Pai, who is trying to unseat, Rep Michelle Steel, told the Orange County Register that he was at the gym when the first email was sent. He initially thought it was a test email.

But, when he realised the email had gone to “literally everyone” he called his parents and mentors for advice, who told him that he had to get through the campaign “to be in a position to serve and serve as I’ve always enjoyed it.”

“In that first email, the only thing that was inaccurate was the resulting decision,” he told the newspaper.

Now, with the mask off, Mr Pai said he can run an authentic campaign.

“There was a bit of catharsis in that letter coming out,” he told The Hill. “There was a silver lining. I feel free in being myself.”

“Rest assured: I am here to run, win, and serve you to the absolute best of my ability,” he wrote in the second email.

Mr Pai and three other Democratic candidates are vying for the seat held by Rep Steel which covers California’s 45th congressional district or much of northwestern Orange County.

While historically Orange County has mostly voted Republican, demographic shifts have turned the county purple and Ms Steel’s district is regarded as a swing district.