Betsy Butler Enters Assembly Race

Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, D-Marina del Rey, has entered the race for , she told multiple media outlets late last week.

Butler, a Democrat, currently represents the 53rd Assembly District. She won the race for that seat in November; it was her first election. Now, Butler is aspiring for the 50th, a new district that will include Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Malibu and West Hollywood.

Butler's primary opponents appear to be —a liberal activist backed by , Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl and former state Sen. Sheila Kuehl, among others—and .

Butler, who has lived in Marina del Rey for 20 years, says she already represents 1.7 percent of the constituents in the 50th Assembly District, in light of the new district's boundaries.

"I am considered the incumbent in the 50th District," she told The Argonaut.

Regardless, Butler says she will move north to run in the new district. It is unclear exactly which city she has in mind.

Some of Butler's supporters in the South Bay had wanted her to run in the new 66th Assembly District against Tea Party candidate Nathan Mintz next year.

Although Butler has spoken with the media about her plans to run for the 50th seat, her website does not have any related announcements.