Wave Staff Report
LOS ANGELES — There will be only one new member of Congress representing districts within The Wave’s circulation footprint when the new members are sworn in next month in Washington.
Laura Friedman, a Democrat, was elected in the 30th Congressional District, which includes West Hollywood and Hollywood, to replace Rep. Adam Schiff, who was elected to the U.S. Senate.
Friedman, a member of the state Assembly representing the Glendale area, easily defeated Republican Alex Balekian Nov. 5, according to unofficial returns compiled by the county Registrar of Voters. Friedman received 68.52% of the vote.
Only one congressional incumbent, Rep. Jimmy Gomez in the 34th District, failed to get more than 60% of the vote.
Gomez received 55.94% of the vote to defeat fellow Democrat David Kim in the 34th District that serves Boyle Heights and much of the Eastside of Los Angeles.
Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-37th District, won by the biggest margin with 78.45% of the vote to defeat Juan Rey in the district that serves Culver City, Ladera Heights and other parts of South Los Angeles.
Rep. Maxine Waters received almost 75% of the vote in the 43rd District, representing South Los Angeles. She will return to Washington for her 18th term in Congress after defeating Republican Steve Williams.
Other congressional representatives earning reelection included Judy Chu in the 28th District, representing Monterey Park and Alhambra; Ted Lieu, in the 36th District representing West Los Angeles; Linda Sanchez in the 38th District and Robert Garcia in the 42nd District, who both represent parts of Southeast Los Angeles County; and Nanette Barragan in the 44th District, representing Watts, Compton, Lynwood, South Gate and Paramount.
The area will have two new state senators.
In the 35th Senate District, former U.S. Rep. Laura Richardson is leading a close race against former Compton City Councilwoman Michelle Chambers to replace Sen. Steven Bradford, who couldn’t seek reelection due to term limits. As of Nov. 12, Richardson led Chambers 3,600 votes.
Alhambra City Councilman Sasha Perez was elected in the 25th Senate District to replace Sen. Anthony Portantino in a district that includes Alhambra. Perez had more than 61% of the vote to defeat Republican Elizabeth Wong Ahlers in that race.
In a third state Senate race, incumbent Sen. Lena Gonzales was easily reelected in the 33rd District covering most of Southeast Los Angeles. She received more than 69% of the vote to defeat Republican Mario Paz.
Four new members of the state Assembly will be sworn in next month in Sacramento. Sade Elhawary received 60% of the vote in the 57th District to defeat Efren Martinez and replace Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, who was termed out of office. The district serves much of South Los Angeles and part of downtown.
Two Eastside districts also will have new representatives in Sacramento. In the 52nd District, serving Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno and East Los Angeles; Jessica Caloza received more than 66% of the vote to defeat Franky Carrillo. Both are Democrats.
In the neighboring 54th District that incudes Boyle Heights, Montebello and Commerce, Mark Gonzalez received 56% of the vote to defeat fellow Democrat John Yi.
The fourth newcomer will be Lynwood City Councilman Jose Solache, who was elected in the 62nd District, replacing former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, who was termed out of office. Solache received 65% of the vote to defeat Republican Paul Jones in the district that serves much of Southeast Los Angeles.
Other incumbents being returned to office included Mike Fong, 49th District; Rick Zbur, 51st District; Isaac Bryan, 55th District; Lisa Calderon, 56th District; Tina McKinnor, 61st District; Blanca Pacheco, 64th District; and Mike Gipson, 65th District.
