After losing a floor vote at the California Democratic Convention this weekend, State Senator Carole Migden announced on April Fool’s Day that she has withdrawn her bid for re-election. Senate President Don Perata and former Assembly Speaker Willie Brown have brokered an agreement that will save face for Migden’s career if she bows out: after leaving office in November, Governor Schwarzenegger will appoint her to run the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). There are no reports yet about how this deal could affect Migden’s current troubles with the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) – as a federal judge plans to hear her lawsuit against the state agency today. Meanwhile, Migden plans to endorse Joe Nation in the Senate race – in an obvious swipe at her rival, Assemblyman Mark Leno.

Migden’s loss at the Convention finally sealed the outcome of the senator’s re-election woes. Under fire for her reckless driving charges – along with campaign finance troubles that have landed her in court – Migden had a tough time keeping her job, and a longer campaign could get even more ugly and divisive. Former Assemblyman Joe Nation’s late entry in the race only complicated matters, and poll numbers confirmed that Migden had been reduced to a spoiler role in the race.

It was time for the party elders to step in before Migden’s camp did any more damage.

State Senator Don Perata has been a steadfast supporter of Migden’s re-election – even to the point of blocking Assemblyman Mark Leno’s bills so that he could not run against the incumbent with any accomplishments. Willie Brown’s election for San Francisco Mayor in 1995 helped pave Migden’s ascent to the state legislature – giving her a string of uncontested races over the past decade. The two men realized that Migden’s campaign was in trouble, and offered her an alternative to have her exit the race in exchange for a plum political job.

Under the terms of the deal, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will tap Migden to head the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) – the state bureaucracy which administers driver’s licenses. Current DMV Director George Valverde will step down at the end of the year, at which point Migden will then take over. It is unknown what policy expertise Migden would bring to running the DMV, but it's not unusual for such positions to go to former members of the state legislature. According to sources familiar with the deal, the state will compensate Migden $690,000 a year.

While Migden has bowed out of the race for the 3rd State Senate District, she did announce at a press conference that she will endorse a remaining candidate – former Assemblyman Joe Nation. “Joe’s a loyal guy,” she said, “and he knows better than to run against people who gave him his first job in political office.” The other candidate, Mark Leno, was first appointed to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1998 – upon Carole Migden’s recommendation.

Migden’s endorsement of Nation raised quite a few eyebrows, since the ex-Assemblyman from Marin is more politically moderate than Migden and Leno – who are both San Francisco progressives. When Nation entered the race in February, Migden and Leno partisans alike complained that having two progressive candidates would ensure that the 3rd District would get a state senator who does not match the area’s liberal politics.

But Migden was unrepentant about what her endorsement meant, and whether it would further divide progressives at a time when wounds from the Leno-Migden spat need to be healed. “Everyone knows that Mark Leno’s candidacy was about revenge,” she said. “I didn’t support him when he ran for Assembly in 2002, and this is his pay-back. But now Mark should know that two can play this game, and so I’m gladly endorsing his opponent.”

No reports yet about whether the Perata-Brown deal to get Migden a job at the DMV will affect her current woes with the Fair Political Practices Commission.