CVAR meets Rep. Norma Torres (white suit) in Washington.
Compiled by Bill Ruh CVAR Government Affairs Director
The nation’s eyes were on California last Tuesday, and for good reason–California may determine which party controls the U.S House of Representatives. Additionally, the high-stakes contest for the California Governors mansion created quite a bit of interest across the country.
That national interest did not extend to California voters, however, with a 21% voter turnout, despite the record spending for a Primary.
In California, the top two finishers, regardless of party, compete against each other in the November election. The California top-two system does not apply to local races for County Supervisor, City Council, and similar offices. The Los Angeles County clerk revealed that a printing error had improperly left about 119,000 names off voting rosters. As a result, some voters had to cast provisional ballots and prolong the process of verifying and counting election results. Mail-in ballots and provisional ballots can make a difference for candidates in close races.
As of late last week, California was living up to its reputation for being slow at vote counting. Still, here’s a look at what we know so far:
At the top of the ticket:
Gavin Newsom, the Democratic Lieutenant Governor and former Mayor of San Francisco, captured one of two spots on the November ballot. The other went to John Cox, a Republican business executive. State Sen. Ed Hernandez (West Covina), and developer Eleni Kounalakis prevailed in a field of 11 candidates for the two spots on the November ballot to fill Newsom’s spot as Lieutenant Governor.
U.S. Senate: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-San Francisco), easily won a spot on the November ballot, along with State Sen. Kevin De Leon (D-Los Angeles).
U.S. House of Representatives:
27th Congressional District: Congressmember Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) and challenger Bryan Witt (D-Pasadena) will continue their race into November.
31st Congressional District: Congressmember Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands) will meet challenger Sean Flynn (R-Redlands).
32nd Congressional District: Congressmember Grace Napolitano will return to Congress, as she ran unopposed.
35th Congressional District: Congressmember Norma Torres (D-Pomona) swept past former Congressmember Joe Baca (D-San Bernardino) for the right to challenge Christian Leonel Valiente (R-Ontario) in November.
39th Congressional District: In the seat being vacated by 25-year Congressional veteran Ed Royce, Young Kim (R-Yorba Linda) and likely second place finisher Gil Cisneros (D-Fullerton), topped the field of 17 candidates for the hotly contested seat and will advance to the November election.
California State Senate:
20th Senate District: Sen. Connie Leyva (D-Chino), breezed past Paul Vincent Avila (D-Ontario) to challenge Matthew Munson (R-Ontario) in November.
22nd SD. In the seat being vacated by termed out Senator Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina), former Assemblymember Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park), and Baldwin Park Councilmember Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), beat out Union organizer Ruben Sierra (D-Alhambra) and Baldwin Park Councilmember Monica Garcia (D-Baldwin Park), for the November election.
29th SD: Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) was re-called from the Senate. Former Assemblymember Ling Ling Chang (R-Diamond Bar) won the seat for the remaining 2 years.
California State Assembly:
40th Assembly District: San Bernardino County Supervisor James Ramos (D-San Bernardino) and San Bernardino Councilmember Henry Nickel (R-San Bernaradino), bested Libbern Gwen Cook (D-Redlands) and will advance to the November election.
41st AD: Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) and Alan S. Reynolds (South Pasadena), beat out Kenneth Rotter (D-Pasadena), advancing to the November ballot.
48th AD: Assemblymember Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), will continue in the Assembly, running unopposed in the Primary.
49th AD: Assemblymember Ed Chau (D-Monterey Park), and Burton Brink (R-Arcadia) will continue their race into November. Chau and Brink were the only two on the ballot Tuesday.
52nd AD: Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez (D-Pomona) and Toni Holle (R-Chino) beat out Frank Guzman (D-Pomona) and Ben Gibbins (Libertarian–Montclair) to appear on the November ballot.
55th AD: Assemblymember Phil Chen (R-Diamond Bar), and Gregg Fritchle (D-Walnut), topped a field of 5 for the November election. Both Chen and Fritchle also opposed each other in the November 2016 election.
57th AD: Assemblymember Ian Calderon (D-Whittier) and Jessica Martinez (R-La Habra), topped a field of 5 for the November election.
Los Angeles County Supervisor:
1st Supervisorial District: Supervisor Hilda Solis was returned to office after running unopposed.
Los Angeles County Assessor: LA County Assessor Jeff Prang topped a field of 4 and will return to office.
San Bernardino County Supervisor:
2nd District: County Supervisor Janice Rutherford beat out Assemblymember Marc Steinorth. Rutherford will return for another 4 years.
4th District: County Supervisor Curt Hagman beat out Chaffey College Trustee Gloria McLeod. Hagman will return for another 4 years.
San Bernardino County District Attorney: Atty. Jason Anderson beat out District Attorney Mike Ramos. Anderson will serve a 4 year term.
