Assemblyman Bradford drops special-election bid to replace Rod Wright

Assemblyman Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) said he won’t run in an upcoming special election to replace former state Sen. Roderick D. Wright.

“I have decided to forgo my intended run for the state Senate,” Bradford said in a statement issued Sunday night.

“I offer my support to my colleague Isadore Hall and wish him great success in his campaign for the 35^th State Senate District. I look forward to continuing to build on the work that we have done together that has helped to move California forward,” the statement continued.

Bradford’s decision is likely good news for Assemblyman Hall (D-Compton), the only other state elected official so far to have taken steps to run. The filing period closes Friday.

Gov. Jerry Brown called a special election for Dec. 9 when Wright, a Democrat representing an Inglewood-based district, resigned after being sentenced on eight felony convictions stemming from his lying about residency qualifications when he ran for the seat in 2008. Wright, who said he believed he was following the law, is to begin serving a 90-day jail sentence on Oct. 31.

Bradford and Hall announced for the seat shortly after Wright resigned. Five candidates, including Hall, have taken out nominating papers so far, according to Los Angeles County election officials.

None of them — four Democrats and one Republican — has completed the filing process.

Hall began snapping up endorsements almost immediately.

Follow @jeanmerl for the latest in Southern California politics news.