California Assembly Race and Los Angeles Mayoral Contest Draw Attention After Primary Voting
Voters in Folsom, Rancho Cordova, and Citrus Heights cast ballots Tuesday in California’s 7th Assembly District primary election, determining which candidates will advance to the November general election.
According to results reported by the Associated Press, Republican Assemblymember Josh Hoover received approximately 49% of the vote, while Democratic candidate Amy Slavensky earned about 44%. Under California’s top-two primary system, both candidates are expected to advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation.
Hoover, who represents the district after winning the seat in 2022, previously served as chief of staff to former California Assemblymember Kevin Kiley. He also hosts the political podcast Point of Order and is a member of the bipartisan California Problem Solvers Caucus.
Slavensky recently returned from retirement to serve as interim deputy superintendent of the San Juan Unified School District. She previously retired in 2021 after serving as superintendent of the Amador County Unified School District.
Los Angeles Mayoral Race Heads Toward Runoff
Meanwhile, attention has also focused on the Los Angeles mayoral election. Preliminary results indicate that incumbent Mayor Karen Bass did not secure a majority of votes needed to win outright, making a November runoff likely.
As of Thursday morning, with roughly 62% of ballots counted, vote totals reported by The New York Times showed:
- Karen Bass: 183,701 votes (35%)
- Spencer Pratt: 157,116 votes (29.9%)
- Nithya Raman: 119,809 votes (22.8%)
If current standings hold, Bass and Pratt would advance to the runoff election.
A Republican has not won a Los Angeles mayoral election in more than 30 years.
Election Complaint Filed
The mayoral race has also seen a dispute over campaign activity near ballot drop boxes.
Pratt announced on social media that his campaign filed a formal complaint alleging that Bass violated California election laws prohibiting electioneering within 100 feet of a ballot drop box. The complaint references a campaign video that allegedly showed Bass encouraging supporters to vote while near a ballot collection location.
California law restricts candidates and campaign workers from soliciting votes or engaging in electioneering within 100 feet of polling places and ballot drop boxes.
A spokesperson for Bass dismissed the complaint and questioned its merits. As of publication, election officials had not announced any findings regarding the allegations.
Vote counting is expected to continue in the coming days as election officials process remaining ballots across California.
