Politics & Government

2 Democrats Make 50th Assembly Runoff

Official results are in from the county elections office. Richard Bloom and Betsy Butler—looking to extend their time as elected politicians—win the June 5 primary. Countdown begins for Nov. 6 general election.

Updated at 10:30 a.m.

Two Democrats—Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom and Assemblywoman Betsy Butler—were confirmed victors Friday in the 50th Assembly District's June 5 primary, and are now headed for a runoff in the November general election.

Butler secured the lead with 16,084 votes, just 137 votes ahead of Bloom, who ended his primary run 722 votes in front of third place finisher Brad Torgan, the race's lone Republican. In fourth and final place was Torie Osborn who collected 15,155 votes, according to official results from the Los Angeles County clerk-recorder.

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All four candidates had political experience under their belts, but Bloom and Butler were the only two in elected positions.

A total of 62,413 votes were cast in the district, where of the 285,875 registered voters district wide, 52 percent are Democrats. Voter turnout was 21.93 percent. Countywide, voter turnout was slightly higher at 21.87 percent.

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With three Democrats going head-to-head in the June primary, the Santa Monica mayor touted his 13 years on the Santa Monica City Council as one of the biggest distinguishers between himself and Butler, who was elected to the California Assembly in 2010. 

But she spent a substantial amount on her campaign— $444,884 more than Bloom between January and mid-May, when the latest financial statements by candidates were filed. She collected big endorsements, too, such as from California Democratic Party. Butler, a current Assembly member who represents a South Bay district, received 62 of the possible 85 delegate votes. Rival Torie Osborn, a political activist, had 20 backers and Santa Monica Mayor/California Coastal Commissioner Richard Bloom earned no support. (Three delegates voted for no endorsement).

For , it appeared Butler and Osborn, were destined for a November showdown. They each raked in more than $300,000 in donations and clamored for endorsements. But Osborn, who has worked for Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and who has helmed some of the nation’s leading gay rights organizations, didn't survive California’s new "top-two" system.

The election marked the first major test of the state's new primary system, under which the top two vote-getters head to the Nov. 6 general election, regardless of political party.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the number of votes received by Brad Torgan, who finished in third place, not fourth.


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