On Tuesday, March. 5, voters in 17 congressional districts that touch LA County took to the polls — or relaxed in the knowledge that their ballot was in the mail — for the 2024 statewide primary election.
While early results show some races dominated by frontrunners, others were hotly contested and may not have clear winners for several days or even weeks.
The top two vote-getters in the primary, regardless of party preference, will proceed to a November runoff. If there are only two candidates running, they will both automatically advance.
The Los Angeles County registrar’s office released the first round of returns, consisting of vote-by-mail ballots received before election day, shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 5. The second wave of results, set to be released around 9 p.m., will include ballots cast in-person before election day.
See the latest election results.
Here is where the races stood as of around 8:45 p.m. on Tuesday evening.
Congressional District 23: Republican incumbent Rep. Jay Obernolte led the race with nearly 57% of the vote, while his sole challenger, Democratic community organizer Derek Marshall, was in second with about 43% of the vote. They are competing to represent the Inland Empire’s desert communities between the Antelope Valley and the Nevada border, which includes a small corner of L.A. County.
Congressional District 26: Democratic incumbent Rep. Julia Brownley had about 54% of the vote, putting her in the lead to represent the south coast of Ventura County, as well as Agoura, Calabasas and Westlake Village. Republican health care investigator Michael Koslow was in second place with 31% of the vote, followed by Democratic Agoura Hills City Councilmember Chris Anstead with nearly 8% and Republican veteran Bruce Boyer with nearly 7%.
Candidates for California’s 26th congressional district are: Chris Anstead, Bruce Boyer, Julia Brownley and Michael Koslow. (Courtesy Photo)
Congressional District 27: Republican Rep. Mike Garcia jumped out in front of Democratic challenger George Whitesides, a former NASA chief of staff and Virgin Galactic CEO, in the race to represent Santa Clarita, Lancaster and Palmdale, with 53% of the vote to 34%. A third candidate, Steve Hill, had about 12/5% This is a key battleground house seat has attracted big fundraising numbers.
Candidates for California’s 27th congressional district are: Mike Garcia, Steve Hill and George Whitesides. (Courtesy Photo)
Congressional District 28: Democratic Rep. Judy Chu was leading the race to represent the San Gabriel Valley communities of Alhambra, Monterey Park, Altadena and Arcadia. She had 65% support. She was followed by Republican Mayor of Arcadia April Verlato with 31%, and then Libertarian customer service representative Jose Casteneda and Freedom Party candidate William Patterson with nearly 2% each.
U.S. Rep. Judy Chu and Arcadia Mayor April Verlato (Courtesy)
Congressional District 29: Democratic state Assemblymember Luz Maria Rivas was leading the race to replace retiring Rep. Tony Cardenas and represent the north central San Fernando Valley, including Sylmar, Pacoima and Panorama City. She had nearly 52% and was followed by Democratic former LAUSD bus driver Benito Benny Bernal with about 27% and Democratic community organizer Angélica María Dueñas with nearly 21%
Candidates for California’s 29th congressional district are: Benito Bernal, Angélica Dueñas and Luz Rivas. (Courtesy Photos)
Congressional District 30: Democratic Assemblymember Laura Friedman was leading the 15-person race to fill the seat of Rep. Adam Schiff, who is running for US Senate, and represent the Los Angeles communities of Hollywood, West Hollywood, Hancock Park, Burbank and Glendale. She had nearly 29% support. She was followed by Republican ICU physician Alex Balekian with nearly 20% of the vote, Democratic state Sen. Anthony Portantino with 15% of the vote and Democratic former LA City Attorney Mike Feuer with 14%. The other candidates were far behind.
Candidates for California’s 30th congressional district are: (from top l-r) Francesco Arreaga, Alex Balekian, Joshua Bocanegra, Steve Dunwoody, Mike Feuer, Laura Friedman, Sal Genovese, Emilio Martinez, Nick Melvoin, Courtney Najera, Anthony Portantino, G Maebe Pudlo, Jirair Ratevosian, Ben Savage and Sepi Shyne. (Courtesy Photos)
Congressional District 31: FormerDemocratic Rep. Gil Cisneros was leading the hotly contested San Gabriel Valley race to replace longtime Rep. Grace Napolitano with about 24% of the vote. After him, Republican lawyer Daniel Jose Bocic Martinez had nearly 19% of the vote, Democratic state Sen. Susan Rubio had about 17%, Republican clinical psychologist Pedro Antonio Casas had 14% and Democratic state Sen. Bob Archuleta had 11%. The remaining five candidates were further behind. The district comprises several cities, including Azusa, El Monte, West Covina and Baldwin Park. Candidates for Congressional District 31 are (l-r): Bob Archuleta, Pedro ‘Antonio’ Casas, Gil Cisneros, Greg Hafif, Kurt Jose, Erskin Levi, Mary Ann Lutz, Marie Manvel, Daniel Jose Bocic Martinez and Susan Rubio. (Courtesy Photos)[/caption]
Congressional District 32: Democratic incumbent Rep. Brad Sherman was ahead in the race to represent Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Canoga Park, Chatsworth, Encino and Northridge. He had about 62% support, followed by Republican talent manager Larry Thompson with nearly 19%, Republican retired businessman James Shuster with 10%, and Democratic Tarzana Neighborhood Councilmember Christopher Ahuja with 5%. The other candidates were further behind. Candidates for the 32nd Congressional District are: Christopher Ahuja, Brad Sherman, James Shuster, Douglas Smith and Larry Thompson. (Courtesy Photos)[/caption]
Congressional District 34: Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez, with 53%, was leading in his bid to continue representing a swath of Los Angeles city, including Koreatown, Westlake, Boyle Heights and Downtown Los Angeles. He was followed by Democratic children’s court attorney David Kim with nearly 24%, Republican business owner Calvin Lee with nearly 17%, and public school teacher Aaron Reveles and Democrat David Ferrell with about 3% each.
Congressional District 35: Democratic incumbent Rep. Norma Torres was leading the race with 53.5% of the vote in her bid to represent Pomona in L.A. County, and Chino, Fontana, Montclair and Ontario in the Inland Empire. Behind her were Republican businessman Mike Cargile with around 35% of the vote, Democrat Melissa May with 7.5% and Republican Vijal Suthar with about%.
Congressional District 36: Democratic incumbent Rep. Ted Lieu was leading the race to represent West L.A. and the South Bay with the 69% of the vote. He was ahead of Republican financial advisor Ariana Hakami and Republican investigative journalist Melissa Toomin with about 14% each, and Business owner Claire Ragge Anderson, who had about 2% of the vote.
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Congressional District 37: Democratic incumbent Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove had 73% of the vote, putting her in the lead to represent Southwest L.A., including the communities of Jefferson Heights, Pico-Robertson Crenshaw and Culver City. She was followed by Democratic businessman Adam Carmichael with about 10% of the vote, tain mechanic Juan Rey with 9% of the vote and working class advocate John Thompson Parker with nearly 8% of the vote.
Congressional District 38: Rep. Linda Sánchez, this district’s Democratic incumbent, was leading the race to represent Southeastern L.A. and San Gabriel Valley — including the cities of Norwalk, Whittier, Montebello and Pico Rivera — with 58% of the vote. Republican Mayor of Walnut Eric Ching had 24%. The other two candidates were further behind.
From left, Eric Ching, Rep. Linda Sanchez and Robert Zhang Ochoa are running for the 38th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.(Photos courtesy of candidates)
Congressional District 42: Democratic incumbent Rep. Robert Garcia was leading the race to represent Long Beach, Bell, Huntington Gardens and Avalon with nearly 56% of the vote. Republican business owner John Briscoe was in second with 31%, with the other two candidates further behind.
Running in the March 5 primary for California’s 42nd Congressional District, which includes Long Beach, Lakewood and Downey, are Democrat Joaquin Beltran, Republican John Briscoe and Democrats Robert Garcia and Nicole Lopez. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the Nov. 5 general election.(Photos courtesy of candidates).
Congressional District 43: Democratic incumbent Rep. Maxine Waters was leading the race to represent South L.A., including Inglewood, Gardena, Hawthorne and Compton, with nearly 70% of the vote. In second was Republican small business owner Steve Williams with nearly 14%, followed by Republican education business owner David Knigh with about 7%. The other candidates were further behind.
Congressional District 44: Democratic incumbent Rep. Nanette Barragán was ahead in the race to represent South L.A. and the Harbor Area, including the cities and communities of Carson, Lynwood and San Pedro. She had aout 72% of the vote. Her Republican challenger, Robert Groh, had 28% of the vote. Both will advance to the general election.
Congressional District 45: Republican incumbent Rep. Michelle Steele was leading in the race to represent Hawaiian Gardens and Artesia in L.A. County and the northeastern areas of Orange County with 51.5% of the vote. Her four Democratic challengers followed behind: Workers’ rights advocate Derek Tran with nearly 19%, Garden Grove City Councilmember Kim Nguyen-Penaloza with 16%, egislative policy analyst Cheyenne Hunt with about 8% and affordable housing attorney Aditya Pai with 5%.
From left, candidates for the 45th congressional district, Cheyenne Hunt, Kim Nguyen-Penaloza, Aditya Pai, Rep. Michelle Steel and Derek Tran. (Photos courtesy of the candidates)