Los Angeles County voters got to help decide, during California’s recent primary election, which candidates for eight state Senate seats will advance to the November general election.
In most races, the top two candidates moving on to the runoff election have been known – at least unofficially – for some time now, even before local election offices were done counting all ballots.
In L.A. County, the registrar’s office issued its final vote count update and certified its results on Friday, June 26. Next, the California secretary of state has until July 10 to certify all election results statewide.
For state legislative races, the top two vote-getters move on to the general election, regardless of political party or even if one candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the primary election. In some cases, only two people ran in the primary, which means they both automatically move on to the general election.
In Districts 24 and 34, Sens. Ben Allen and Tom Umberg were prohibited from running again due to term limits. And in District 26, Sen. María Elena Durazo opted to run for a seat on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors instead of seeking reelection.
In the other five L.A. County state Senate races, the incumbent advanced to the general election.
Below is a rundown of who’s moving on, based on overall unofficial vote counts shortly after 3:15 p.m. Friday, as provided by county registrar of voters offices to the California secretary of state’s office.
State Senate District 20
Sen. Caroline Menjivar, a Democrat who is seeking a second term, received 62% of the vote. She will face Republican Tony Rodriguez, a recruitment manager with 27.8% voter support, in November.
Located in the northern and eastern portions of the San Fernando Valley, SD-20 spans an area roughly bordered by Burbank, Sunland/Tujunga, Sylmar and Canoga Park.
State Senate District 22
Democratic Sen. Susan Rubio, who is hoping for a third term, received 62.3% of the vote in the primary election. Her Republican challenger in November, Mike Netter, a small business owner, received 34.6%.
This district primarily represents communities in eastern San Gabriel Valley, including El Monte, Covina and Pomona. But it also includes parts of San Bernardino County, including Ontario and Chino.
State Senate District 24
West Hollywood Councilmember John Erickson was the top vote-getter in the primary, with 20.5% of the vote, followed by media consultant Brian Goldsmith with 18.3%. Both are Democrats.
With Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, termed out and unable to seek reelection, 10 candidates – the most of any California legislative race this year – ran to succeed him.
This largely coastal district stretches from the Santa Monica Mountains – including Agoura Hills, Calabasas and Malibu – to L.A.’s Westside and Hollywood area, and on down to the South Bay, taking in Redondo Beach, Torrance and Rancho Palos Verdes.
State Senate District 26
Sara Hernandez, an affordable housing advocate and president of the Los Angeles Community College District board, received 31.2% of the vote in the primary election. Joining her in the runoff will be environmental advocate Sarah Rascón, who received 19.4% of the vote. Both are Democrats.
Former Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo, who placed third in the race with 13.7%, this week endorsed Rascón.
SD-26 became a wide open race when Sen. María Elena Durazo, D-Los Angeles, decided to run for the L.A. County Board of Supervisors instead of seeking reelection, prompting eight people to toss their hats in the ring to succeed her.
California’s 26th Senate District stretches from L.A.’s Eagle Rock and Highland Park neighborhoods in the north, toward Los Feliz and Koreatown in the west, and Boyle Heights, East L.A. and the city of Vernon in the southeastern part of the district.
State Senate District 28
Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, who is seeking a second term, has advanced to the runoff, along with businessman Joe Lisuzzo. The Democratic incumbent had 77.5% of the vote versus 16.2% for Lisuzzo, a Republican.
This district stretches from downtown L.A. west toward Mar Vista and Westchester and takes in most of South Central L.A., including Florence at its southeastern edge.
State Senate District 30
Sen. Bob Archuleta, a Democrat, received 65.1% of the vote in his bid for a third and final term. Republican challenger Araceli Martinez, a small business owner, received 34.9% in the two-person primary race. The two will face off again in November.
This district represents a portion of southeastern L.A. County and includes Downey, Norwalk and Whittier. It also dips into Orange County, picking up the community of Brea.
State Senate District 34
Democratic Assemblymember Avelino Valencia and former Placentia City Councilmember Rhonda Shader, a Republican, ran in this two-person race to succeed Sen. Tom Umberg, D-Santa Ana, who is termed out and could not seek reelection.
Valencia had 65.2% of the vote in the primary election. Shader received 34.8%. Both will face off again in the general election.
This district represents a portion of L.A. County, including South Whittier, but is mostly located in Orange County, and includes the communities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra and Santa Ana.
State Senate District 36
Republican Sen. Tony Strickland, who’s seeking another term, will face off against former San Clemente City Councilmember Chris Duncan, a Democrat, in the general election.
This was a two-person race, with Strickland capturing 53.4% of the vote while Duncan received 46.6%. The two will appear on the ballot again in November.
This largely coastal district includes Artesia, Cerritos and Hawaiian Gardens in Los Angeles County and a larger portion of Orange County, including Garden Grove, Westminster, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Dana Point and San Clemente.