Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
6% Turnout for 26th State Senate Race, 3 Contenders Head to Runoff
Photo by rochelle, et. al. via Flickr
Shortly after 11 p.m., officials with the LA County Recorder-Registrar completed tallying a meager amount of votes casted Tuesday for the 26th State Senate seat vacated by Mark Ridley-Thomas last year when he became a Los Angeles County Supervisor. The semi-official results show that Democratic State Assemblyman Curren Price, Republican Rabbi Nachum Shifren and Cindy Varela Henderson of the Peace & Freedom Party will run in the May 19th runoff election. With 390,409 registered voters within the district, which spans from Hollywood and Silver Lake to South LA and Culver City, only 24,039, or 6.16%, voted. More than half of those ballots were mailed and received prior to the election.
Price led the race with 35.65%, or 8,442, of total votes, but he needed 50% to win outright. Because of that, top candidates from each party go to a runoff. Rabbi Shifren and Henderson received 11.53% and 1.75% of the vote, respectively.
Five other Democratic candidates rounded off the ballot. Assemblyman Mike Davis came in second overall with 21% of votes.
Provisional ballots and vote-by-mail ballots received in the mail on Tuesday or turned in at polling locations have yet to be counted. County officials have until Friday to finish their count and certify the election.
Previous 26th District Race Coverage
- Stories from the Field: Voters See Low Turnout and Odd Voting Methods
- Why Are There so Many Elections?
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
