Los Angeles County Voters Will Help Decide 32 State Legislative Races on Nov. 3

Los Angeles County voters will help determine the outcome of 32 state legislative contests in the Nov. 3 general election, covering eight state Senate seats and 24 Assembly seats. Some of the districts extend into neighboring San Bernardino, Orange, Ventura and Kern counties.

Eight of the races have no incumbent on the ballot. In the Senate, Ben Allen (District 24) and Tom Umberg (District 34) are leaving because of term limits, while Sen. María Elena Durazo (District 26) did not seek reelection after winning a seat on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors in June. In the Assembly, Tom Lackey, Jacqui Irwin, Mike Gipson, Al Muratsuchi and Sharon Quirk-Silva are termed out of Districts 34, 42, 65, 66 and 67. Assemblymembers Mark Gonzalez (District 54) and Tina McKinnor (District 61), both Democrats, are running unopposed.

California sends the top two primary finishers to the general election regardless of party, even when one candidate won a majority in June. That is why several matchups feature two candidates from the same party or repeat rematches from two years ago.

The two most expensive contests are in Senate Districts 24 and 26, the only L.A. County Senate races with two Democrats on the ballot. In the 24th, which runs from Malibu and Calabasas through the Westside and Hollywood to the South Bay, West Hollywood Councilmember John Erickson faces media consultant Brian Goldsmith. Between the primary and mid-October, the two raised more than $3.2 million combined, and outside independent expenditure groups added at least $5.8 million.

In the 26th District, which stretches from Eagle Rock and Highland Park to Koreatown, Boyle Heights and Vernon, affordable housing advocate Sara Hernandez, who is president of the Los Angeles Community College District board, is up against environmental advocate Sarah Rascón. Outside groups have spent more than $4.5 million on ads, mailers and other expenses since the primary. The California Democratic Party made no endorsement in this race, or in the 24th, because its endorsement caucus could not reach consensus.

Elsewhere in the Senate, Democratic incumbents Caroline Menjivar (District 20), Susan Rubio (District 22), Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (District 28) and Bob Archuleta (District 30) face Republican challengers. In the 34th, Democratic Assemblymember Avelino Valencia is running against Republican Rhonda Shader, a former Placentia councilmember. In the 36th, Republican Sen. Tony Strickland faces Democrat Chris Duncan, a former San Clemente councilmember.

Inland Empire voters have a say in several Assembly races. In the 34th District, which spans Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Kern counties and includes Big Bear Lake and Barstow, Big Bear Lake Mayor Randall Putz, a Democrat, faces Republican Charles Frederick Hughes to succeed Lackey. In the 39th, Assemblymember Juan Carrillo, a Democrat seeking a third term, faces Republican Paul Andre Marsh, in a district that reaches Adelanto, Hesperia and Victorville. The 41st, with Rancho Cucamonga, Wrightwood and San Antonio Heights, pits Democrat John Harabedian against Republican Adam Christopher Vena, while the 53rd, including Pomona, Ontario, Chino, Upland and Montclair, features Democrat Michelle Rodriguez and Republican Rafaela Romero.

Two Assembly races are also between members of the same party. In the 51st, Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur faces fellow Democrat Colin Hernandez, and in the 55th, Assemblymember Isaac Bryan faces fellow Democrat Ashley Brown, a school social worker. In the 65th, Compton school board member Ayanna Davis, a Democrat, faces Republican teacher Lydia Gutiérrez to replace Gipson, who is running for the state Board of Equalization. In the 42nd, Democrat Deborah Klein Lopez and Republican Ted Nordblum are competing to succeed Irwin, who is running for the U.S. House seat that retiring Rep. Julia Brownley is leaving.