With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Voters go to the polls in 36th Congressional District election
Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA) hears testimony from Obama Administration cabinet members during a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Capitol Hill April 22, 2009 in Washington, DC.
(
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
)
Listen
Voters go to the polls in 36th Congressional District election
Voters go to the polls today in the special election to replace retired Congresswoman Jane Harman. Harman quit two months after her November re-election to head a Washington D.C. think tank.
After Harman walked away from her job, 16 candidates jumped into the race to replace her. Five Democrats, six Republicans, one Libertarian and a Peace and Freedom Party candidate are on the ballot. Three candidates list no party affiliation.
Under California’s new election rules, if no one gets a majority, the top two vote-getters will advance to a July 12 runoff. In the past, the top candidate from each party advanced.
This means two Democrats could end up in a runoff in a district where 45 percent of the registered voters are Democrat and 27 percent Republican. Most other voters declined to state a party preference.
Sponsored message
The 36th Congressional District stretches from San Pedro to Marina del Rey. It doesn’t include the Palos Verdes Peninsula but does encompass all of the South Bay beach cities and Torrance. Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
