California

California State Assembly

Published

3 years ago

May 11, 2022

What does a California Assemblymember do?

The California Meeting is one-half of our state legislature. Together with the State Senate, it basically serves as California’s Congress.

State lawmakers draft and move legal guidelines that govern your entire state. These legal guidelines can present advantages that aren’t granted by the federal authorities, resembling paid household go away or in-state tuition for undocumented faculty college students. They will impose guidelines that apply statewide, like restrictions on shopping for weapons, prohibiting recording calls with out consent, or not permitting eating places to offer single-use plastic straws except a buyer requests it. They will additionally set minimal requirements for the state and permit cities and counties to go additional — as an illustration, the state minimal wage is $15 an hour for companies with greater than 25 staff, however the metropolis of L.A.’s hourly minimal wage will go as much as $16.04 beginning July 2022.

There are 80 meeting districts throughout California, every with its personal assemblymember. L.A. County alone has 24 of these districts. Every member serves two-year phrases.

For those who’ve voted in earlier elections, your meeting district might have modified due to final yr’s redistricting course of, which occurs as soon as a decade after the Census rely. You may enter your handle into this software from CalMatters to see whether or not your district has modified.

Round three-quarters of lawmakers in each California’s Meeting and State Senate are Democrats, which means we don’t simply have Democratic majorities, however supermajorities. That doesn’t imply it’s all the time straightforward to move payments, although. There are nonetheless divisions amongst lawmakers that result in drawn-out arguments and forestall laws from shifting ahead.

The June 7 vote is a main vote. That signifies that the 2 candidates who obtain essentially the most votes in a district, no matter their occasion, will proceed on to the final election in November, and the one that wins essentially the most votes in November is the one elected to workplace.

You may acknowledge their work from…

Lately, the legislature has:

What’s on the agenda for the subsequent time period?

California has a number of issues to sort out — wildfires, local weather change, the highest poverty price within the nation, skyrocketing housing costs, threats of latest COVID-19 surges, and falling enrollment in public colleges and neighborhood schools, to call a couple of. The legislature should work out methods to handle all of those points and accommodate no matter new issues might come up.

The place do they go from right here?

Seats within the state legislature don’t get a number of consideration, however they’re good resume-building positions that may propel folks to outstanding positions in native, state and federal authorities. Former California assemblymembers embody L.A. mayoral candidates Karen Bass (at present a U.S. consultant) and Mike Feuer (at present L.A. metropolis lawyer), in addition to U.S. Consultant and Home Minority Chief Kevin McCarthy.

Extra studying

The Candidates

Listed here are all of the candidates operating for twenty-four Meeting seats in L.A. County. We’ve listed every candidate’s title, occasion affiliation, marketing campaign web site, and marketing campaign finance the place data was obtainable. For sitting members of the Meeting, we’ve additionally included hyperlinks to their profiles in CalMatters’ Legislator tracker. The highest two candidates in every district, no matter occasion, will compete within the runoff election in November.

Three races in L.A. County are thought of extremely aggressive: District 34, District 39 and District 40.

Meeting District 34

From CalMatters’ 2022 Voter Information:

Sizzling race / Protected Republican

The District
From the San Andreas Fault to the Nevada border, this district takes within the entirety of California’s excessive desert — nearly. Parts of Palmdale, Lancaster and Victorville — the area’s most multiethnic and Los Angeles-connected cities — have been positioned into their very own Latino-majority district, leaving this yet another rural and extra conservative.

Voter registration: 31.4% Democratic, 39.4% Republican, 20.2% no occasion choice

The Scoop
The issue with having an impartial redistricting fee is that generally it actually does behave independently. Simply ask Republican Assemblymembers Tom Lackey and Thurston “Smitty” Smith, each dwelling on this new excessive desert district. Neither moved, so GOP-leaning voters should decide their most popular incumbent.

Lackey, a former freeway patrolman, has been within the Meeting since 2014 and has developed a fame as a real average, consistent with his L.A. County-centered district. Smith is newer to the Capitol and a surer conservative vote.

The massive query is whether or not each incumbents, who dominate the sphere when it comes to identify recognition and fundraising, will safe the highest two spots and make it to November. Democrats make up a large minority of the district’s voters, so if all left-of-center voters rally behind the occasion’s endorsed candidate, Rita Ramirez Dean, it isn’t doubtless each Lackey and Smith will survive the first. However Ramirez has her personal flaws: She has run unsuccessfully for state or federal workplace a minimum of 9 occasions and after lately successful a seat on the Victorville metropolis council, she was kicked off after a majority of her colleagues deemed that she didn’t truly dwell there.

Rita Ramirez Dean, Retired Professor (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: none discovered

Paul Fournier (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: vote4paul.television/

Raj Kahlon, Actual Property Investor (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: none discovered

Tom Lackey, Excessive Desert Assemblyman (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: lackeyforassembly.com
Meeting web site: ad36.asmrc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Lackey’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker.

Roger LaPlante, Veterans’ Advocate (No Social gathering Desire)
Marketing campaign web site: Twitter
Learn extra about LaPlante’s coverage priorities and expertise on Voter’s Edge

Thurston “Smitty” Smith, Assemblyman/Small Businessman (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: joinsmitty.com
Meeting web site: ad33.asmrc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Smith’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker

Meeting District 39

From CalMatters’ 2022 Voter Information:

Sizzling race / Protected Democratic

The District
This majority-Democrat district covers the northeastern elements of Los Angeles County, together with Palmdale, plus cities in San Bernardino County, together with Hesperia and Lancaster. The vast majority of voters listed here are Latino. The district is a blue cutout within the in any other case conservative-leaning excessive desert.

Voter registration: Democratic 47.3%, Republican 21.7%, no occasion choice 22.1%

The Scoop
No incumbent resides on this district, which suggests it’s an open seat. Democrat Andrea Rosenthal, who beforehand labored as political director for former Assemblymember Christy Smith, moved to this district to run, and earned the state occasion’s endorsement. She faces fellow Democrats Juan Carillo, a metropolis council member from Palmdale operating on his native cred with the backing of lots of the state Meeting’s Latino members, and former Assemblymember Steve Fox. A Republican-turned-Democrat who has a strained relationship with the state’s Democratic institution, Fox misplaced in 2016 after two lawsuits filed by former staffers, who alleged sexual harassment, being made to work with out pay and a hostile work atmosphere.

The lone Republican within the race is Paul Andre Marsh, a veteran and neighborhood liaison.

Juan Carrillo, Councilmember, Metropolis of Palmdale (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: votejuancarrillo.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Steve G. Fox, Lawyer/Educator (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: electfox.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Paul Andre Marsh, Group Companies Liaison (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: paulmarshforassembly.com

Andrea Rosenthal, Housing Affordability Organizer (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: andreaforassembly.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Meeting District 40

From CalMatters’ 2022 Voter Information:

Sizzling race / Leans Democratic

The District
Anchored across the former Republican stronghold of Santa Clarita, this district reaches down throughout the Santa Susana Mountains into the north San Fernando Valley.

Voter registration: Democratic 41.8%, Republican 29.0%, no occasion choice 22.7%

The Scoop
Assemblymember Suzette Valladares, a Republican, is probably the highest electoral goal of the California Democratic Social gathering. Even with out redistricting, she would have been in for an enormous political battle, having received her seat in 2020 after a legion of little-known Democrats divided up the center-left vote. That left Valladares and one other Republican vying to characterize a district the place Democrats outnumber GOP voters. With the brand new electoral map, her district is even bluer. Within the Legislature, she has voted as one of the vital average Republican members.

Which Democrat would be the one to take her on? Two, from reverse wings of the occasion, have risen to the problem. Pilar Schiavo, who campaigned for California to undertake a single-payer medical insurance system as a labor organizer, acquired the state occasion’s endorsement, together with the backing of a number of the state’s most progressive elected officers. Annie Cho, a South Korean immigrant who runs a public relations agency and completed third within the 2020 main, is operating beneath the banner of “accountable reform.” She has the backing of a number of the Legislature’s extra average members, together with a number of the greater names in Los Angeles metropolis politics.

Annie E. Cho, Businesswoman (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: annieforassembly.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Pilar Schiavo, Nurse Advocate/Businessperson (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: pilar4ca.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
Learn extra about Schiavo’s coverage priorities and expertise on Voter’s Edge

Suzette Martinez Valladares, Assemblywoman/Educator (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: suzettevalladares.com
Meeting web site: ad38.asmrc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Valladares’ Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker.

Meeting District 41

Chris Holden, Assemblymember (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: holdenforassembly.com
Meeting web site: a41.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Holden’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker.

Meeting District 42

Jacqui Irwin, State Assemblymember (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: jacquiirwin.com
Meeting web site: a44.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Irwin’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker.

Lori Mills, Businesswoman (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: lorimills4stateassembly.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Ted Nordblum, Small Enterprise Proprietor (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: tednordblum.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
Learn extra about Nordblum’s coverage priorities and expertise on Voter’s Edge

Meeting District 43

Luz Maria Rivas, Assemblywoman/Science Educator (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: luzforassembly.com
Meeting web site: a39.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Rivas’ Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker.

Meeting District 44

Laura Friedman, Member of the State Meeting (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: votelaurafriedman.com
Meeting web site: a43.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Friedman’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker

Barry Curtis Jacobsen, Enterprise Proprietor (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: none discovered
Learn extra about Jacobsen’s coverage priorities and expertise on Voter’s Edge

Meeting District 46

Dana Caruso, Retired Assistant Principal (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: none discovered
Learn extra about Caruso’s coverage priorities and expertise on Voter’s Edge

Jesse Gabriel, Member of the California State Meeting (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: jessegabriel.com
Meeting web site: a45.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Gabriel’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker

Meeting District 48

Blanca Rubio, Assemblywoman/Instructor (Democratic)

Marketing campaign web site: blancarubio.com
Meeting web site: a48.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Rubio’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker

Meeting District 49

Burton Brink, Commissioner (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: burtonbrinkca.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
Learn extra about Brink’s coverage priorities and expertise on Voter’s Edge

Mike Fong, Member of the State Meeting, forty ninth District (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: mikefong.org
Meeting web site: mikefong.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Fong’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker

Meeting District 51

Louis Abramson, Scientist/Group Organizer (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: louisforca.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Rick Chavez Zbur, Civil Rights Lawyer (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: rickchavezzbur.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Meeting District 52

Wendy Carrillo, Assemblymember (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: wendyforassembly.com
Meeting web site: a51.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Carrillo’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker

Gia D’Amato, Buyer Service Consultant (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: giafor2022.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Mia Livas Porter, Environmental Advocate/Mum or dad (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: miaforassembly.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Meeting District 53

Toni Holle (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: Fb web page

Freddie Rodriguez, Assemblymember/First Responder (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: freddierodriguez.com
Meeting web site: a52.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Rodriguez’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker

Meeting District 54

Miguel Santiago, Member of the State Meeting (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: santiagoforassembly.com
Meeting web site: a53.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Santiago’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker

Meeting District 55

Keith Girolamo Cascio, Software program Developer (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: keithfor55.org

Isaac G. Bryan, Assemblymember (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: isaacbryanforca.com
Meeting web site: a54.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Bryan’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker

Meeting District 56

Lisa Calderon, Member of the Meeting (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: lisacalderon4assembly.com
Meeting web site: a57.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Calderon’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker

Jessica Martinez, Metropolis of Whittier Councilmember (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: Fb web page
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Natasha “Naty” Serrano, Procurement Purchaser (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: natashaforassembly.com
Learn extra about Serrano’s coverage priorities and expertise on Voter’s Edge

Meeting District 57

Reggie Jones-Sawyer, California State Assemblyman (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: jonessawyerforassembly.com
Meeting web site: a59.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Jones-Sawyer’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker

Meeting District 61

Tina Simone McKinnor, Non-Revenue Director/Businesswoman (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: tina4ca.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Robert Pullen-Miles, Mayor (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: robertpullenmiles.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Angie Reyes English, Councilwoman/Councilman’s Deputy (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: angieforassembly.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Nico Ruderman, Neighborhood Councilmember (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: nicoruderman.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

James Arlandus Spencer, Environmental Marketing consultant (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: robertpullenmiles.com

Meeting District 62-2020 Quick Time period

It is a runoff race from an April 5 particular election. The winner will fill the rest of the Meeting time period left vacant after Assemblymember Autumn Burke stepped down in January.

Robert Pullen-Miles, Mayor, Metropolis of Lawndale (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: robertpullenmiles.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
Learn extra about Pullen-Miles’ coverage priorities and expertise on Voter’s Edge

Meeting District 62

Maria Estrada, Accountant (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: Fb web page
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Anthony Rendon, Assemblymember (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: anthonyrendon.org
Meeting web site: speaker.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Rendon’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker

Meeting District 64

Elizabeth Alcantar, Mayor/Group Educator (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: elizabethalcantar.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
Learn extra about Alcantar’s coverage priorities and expertise on Voter’s Edge

Roberto “Rob” Cancio, Physician/Educator/Businessman (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: votecancio.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Rose Espinoza, Government Director/Councilwoman (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: roseespinoza.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Raul Ortiz, Jr., Pest Management Supervisor (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: Instagram

Blanca Pacheco, Downey Mayor/Businesswoman (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: pachecoforassembly.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Ana M. Valencia, Instructor/Councilmember (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: anavalenciaforassembly.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Extra studying about this race:

Meeting District 65

Mike Anthony Gipson, California State Assemblymember (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: mikegipson.web
Meeting web site: a64.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Gipson’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker

Fatima Iqbal-Zubair, Public Faculty Instructor (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: fatimaforassembly.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Meeting District 66

George Barks, Enterprise Proprietor (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: none discovered

Al Muratsuchi, South Bay Assemblymember (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: al4assembly.com
Meeting web site: a66.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Muratsuchi’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker

Meeting District 67

Param Brar, Protection Contract Supervisor (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: parambrar.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Sou Moua, CAD Designer (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: Fb web page

Sharon Quirk-Silva, Assemblymember/Instructor (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: sharonquirksilva.com
Meeting web site: a65.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Quirk-Silva’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker

Soo Yoo, Faculty Board President (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: sooyooforassembly.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Meeting District 69

Al Austin, II, Lengthy Seashore Councilmember (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: alaustinforassembly.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Josh Lowenthal, Small Enterprise Proprietor (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: joshlowenthal.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Merry Taheri, Citizen Police Commissioner (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: merrytaheri4assembly.com
Learn extra about Taheri’s coverage priorities and expertise on Voter’s Edge

Janet Denise Foster, Healthcare Administrator (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: janetdfoster.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Extra studying about this race:

What questions do you’ve gotten in regards to the June 7 main election?

Whether or not it is about the best way to register to vote or making sense of a candidate’s platform, we’re right here that will help you get poll prepared.

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California

Northern California driver dies after vehicle found in floodwaters, 1 other found dead

Published

4 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Northern California driver dies after vehicle found in floodwaters, 1 other found dead

PIX Now morning edition 11-23-24

09:29

SONOMA COUNTY – A man died when he was found in a flooded vehicle after an atmospheric river dumped heavy rain in Northern California, authorities said.

In Sonoma County’s Guerneville, first responders responded to a report around 11:30 a.m. Saturday for a vehicle that was seen in floodwaters near Mays Canyon Road and Highway 116.

The caller believed that at least one person was inside the vehicle.

When crews arrived, they said the vehicle was recovered but a man was pronounced dead at the scene. He has not been identified.

The Russian River, which flows through Guerneville, reached the flood stage on Friday evening and exceeded what was forecasted.

This area went into a flood warning around 2 p.m. Friday and was still in place as of Saturday afternoon.

Guerneville is about 75 miles north of San Francisco.

Around 8:45 a.m. Saturday in Santa Rosa, a man was found dead in Piner Creek just south of Guerneville Road, the police department said. His death is being investigated.

Brandon Downs

Brandon Downs is a digital content producer at CBS Sacramento.

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California

Laura Richardson completes a political comeback, winning tight race to represent South L.A. in the California Capitol

Published

12 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Laura Richardson completes a political comeback, winning tight race to represent South L.A. in the California Capitol

Laura Richardson emerged the victor of the competitive, costly and feisty election to win a South Los Angeles seat in the state Senate — completing her political comeback more than 10 years after a tumultuous tenure in the House of Representatives.

Richardson narrowly won the race against Michelle Chambers, a community justice advocate who faced accusations of misconduct in prior public office. The Associated Press called the race Friday after weeks of ballot counting.

The contest between two Democrats with similar social policies but differing views on crime and business attracted huge spending by special interests.

Independent expenditure committees poured more than $7.6 million into the race, making it the most expensive election for state Legislature this year, according to California Target Book, a political database. Negative campaigning dominated the race as business interests and labor unions battled for their favored candidate.

Richardson, a moderate Democrat, will join a Democratic supermajority in the Legislature. But Republicans are on track to flip three legislative seats this year, one in the Senate and two in the Assembly.

Richardson’s biggest supporters were businesses, including PACs funded by oil companies, and law enforcement associations that said they advocated for candidates who shared their beliefs on free enterprise and public safety. Meanwhile, Chambers’ biggest portion of support came from healthcare workers and teachers unions, who spent millions of dollars backing her.

Chambers wrote in a statement she was “proud of the campaign we ran,” thanking supporters who canvassed, phone-banked or cast votes for her “vision of better jobs, better wages and a California that works for everybody, not just the wealthy and well-connected.”

“This was the closest state senate race in the state, but unfortunately it appears that we will fall just short of victory,” she added. “Our people-powered efforts were not quite enough to overcome millions of dollars in outside spending on lies from the oil and tobacco industry and their allies.“

Richardson will succeed Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) in the 35th District, which encompasses the cities of Carson, Compton and stretches down to the harbor. Bradford, who had endorsed Chambers, said he believed both candidates were “qualified to do the job.”

Bradford, who championed reparations legislation during his tenure, hoped the future senator would be “willing to meet with all factions of the community, because it’s a great diverse need in this district.”

“I’m also deeply sad to see how negative this campaign was, probably one of the most negative campaigns I’ve experienced in my 30-plus years of being involved with elections,” he said. “I just hope that we can come together after such a negative campaign, regardless of who the victor is, and understand that we have to work together.”

Richardson and Chambers took aim at each other’s past controversies. For Chambers, who had picked up the endorsement of various state and local elected officials, opposition groups seized on a criminal misdemeanor charge from 30 years ago. She was also accused of bullying and intimidation from her time as a Compton City Council member, allegations that she has repeatedly denied.

Richardson faced criticism over her tenure in Congress, where a House Ethics Committee investigation found her guilty in 2012 of compelling congressional staff to work on her campaign. The committee report also accused Richardson of obstructing the committee investigation “through the alteration or destruction of evidence” and “the deliberate failure to produce documents.”

Richardson admitted to wrongdoing, according to the report, and accepted a reprimand and $10,000 fine for the violations. She previously said that during her time in Congress, Republicans frequently targeted members of the Black Caucus. After she lost her reelection bid for a fourth term, Richardson said she worked at an employment firm to improve her managerial skills and has recognized previous mistakes.

“It’s been said voters are very forgiving, and if you stand up and you accept responsibility and you improve in the work that you do — we need people who’ve been through things, who understand what it’s like to have had difficulties,” she previously told The Times. “And so that’s exactly what I did. I didn’t shy away from it.”

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