Wave Wire Services
SOUTH LOS ANGELES — Heather Hutt — the incumbent appointed to the L.A. City Council from District 10 after her predecessor, Mark Ridley-Thomas, was convicted on federal corruption charges — is headed for a full four-year term.
Hutt leads challenger Grace Yoo by a 23% margin in unofficial vote totals released by the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office.
Hutt, who served as statewide director for then-U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, had 32,726 votes, or about 61.7%, while attorney Yoo stood at 20,330 votes, or about 38.3%. It was unclear how many ballots remain to be tallied in the district.
While Hutt was winning her first election, her former boss Harris was losing her bid to become the first Black and women president in the history of the United States.
Harris officially conceded to Donald Trump Nov. 6, speaking at her alma mater, Howard University in Washington, D.C.
The outcome of this election was not what we wanted — not what we fought for, not what we voted for,” Harris said. “But hear me: The light of America’s promise will always burn bright. While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign.”
According to a spokesperson for Hutt’s campaign, the councilwoman is “proud of the work” she and her team have done, and she feels “lucky to be part of this process and have her communities trust in her.”
A representative for Yoo’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The 10th District encompasses the neighborhoods of Arlington Heights, Koreatown, Mid-City, Palms, South Robertson, West Adams and Wilshire Center.
Yoo had previously challenged Herb Wesson for the seat in 2015, and then Ridley-Thomas in 2020.
She received only 29.71% of the vote in the 2015 primary, failing to make a runoff against Wesson. Five years later, she forced Ridley-Thomas into a runoff. Ridley-Thomas received 60.6% of the vote in the runoff to Yoo’s 39.4%.
In an interview with City News Service prior to the election, Hutt said she hoped to secure a full four-year term and continue representing a district that’s been home to her family for almost 100 years.
Hutt also described the 10th District as a tapestry, with cultural destinations such as Little Ethiopia, Koreatown, Little Bangladesh, the Oaxacan Corridor, Mid-City and Leimert Park, among others.
“These different communities with all their value in the rich culture are something that I truly understand, and I’m here to represent all of it,” Hutt said.
Hutt touted her efforts on assisting the unhoused population, noting an estimated 12% drop in homelessness due to various operations.
The councilwoman also highlighted her work as chair of the council’s Transportation Committee, and leading efforts to reduce speeding.
In another City Council election, progressive challenger Ysabel Jurado appeared to be headed for a comfortable victory over incumbent Kevin de León for the District 14 seat. De León apparently was unable to overcome the political damage incurred when he was heard participating in a secretly recorded 2021 conversation in which crude and racist language was used.
In the 14th District, Jurado is leading with 29,076 votes, or about 55.4%, while de León stood at 23,398 votes, or about 44.6%.
The two candidates were vying to represent a district that includes downtown L.A., Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno and Northeast L.A.
At an election night party in Highland Park, Jurado said she and her team were celebrating the end of a “nearly two-year journey.”
She recounted that she decided to run on the eve of her 33rd birthday because of the now-infamous tape — leaked in 2022 — in which de León was among several officials recorded.
“As someone who has lived here my whole life, I was furious that, once again, my community had been betrayed by our leadership,” Jurado said. “And year after year, I’d seen a charlatan after a charlatan use this district as a stepping stone — my home that I care for and has cared for me. And I decided to throw my hat in the ring.
“But tonight we celebrate us, all of us.”
Meanwhile, de León, at his election night gathering, noted that he faced challenges after the leaked recording — and that he refused to quit, as many had called for him to do.
“It was too much if our district didn’t have representation, so my staff and I rolled up our sleeves and we dug in deep to deliver the services, the programs and the funding we deserve here in CD 14, and even in the face of intense, relentless scrutiny and pressure, we didn’t flinch,” de León said.
“We held strong for our community.”
Two retiring members of the Los Angeles school board left open seats that also were contested Nov. 5.
George McKenna, a revered South Los Angeles educator, is retiring from District 1, which covers Palms, South Los Angeles, Baldwin Hills and Koreatown.
In that race, longtime Dorsey High School teacher Sherlett Hendy Newbill handily defeated community organizer Kahllid Al-Alim.
Newbill received 70.5% of the vote. During her campaign, she touted her years of experience as a teacher, coach and parent. She called for increased counseling and mental health support for students, improved safety on school campuses and “supportive school environments.”
“As a board member, my heart and my door will always be open to working with you, whether you are a parent, teacher, administrator, or concerned community member,” she said on her campaign website.
In District 5, which stretches from East Hollywood and Eagle Rock to southeast Los Angeles, longtime school board member Jackie Goldberg is stepping down after her second stint on the board.
A teacher was destined to win the race with teacher Karla Griego going up against teacher and Huntington Park City Councilwoman Graciela “Grace” Ortiz. As of Nov. 6, Griego had 60% of the vote compared to 40% for Ortiz.
In two other races of note, former U.S. Rep. Laura Richardson was winning in the race for the 35th state Senate District and Sade Elhawary was winning in the race for the 57th Assembly District.
Richardson was leading against former Compton City Councilwoman Michelle Chambers in a battle to replace Steven Bradford, who stepped down due to term limits. Richardson was leading by about 4,500 votes, pulling in 51.41% of the vote to Chambers’ 48.59%.
Elhawary was defeating Efren Martinez in the 57th Assembly District by more than 9,000 votes, with 58.65% of the vote to 41.35%.
They are seeking to replace Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, who also was termed out.
