Advertisement

Richardson heavily favored in runoff after winning congressional primary

Share
Times Staff Writer

At a Long Beach coffee shop Wednesday morning, Green Party candidate Daniel A. Brezenoff held a news conference to remind voters that the race for the 37th Congressional District is not over.

Assemblywoman Laura Richardson (D-Long Beach) outpolled Brezenoff and 16 others in the special election Tuesday to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald.

But because Richardson did not received more than 50% of the vote, the top Democratic vote-getter must face a runoff against the other parties’ top candidates Aug. 21.

Advertisement

That means Richardson will be on the ballot along with Brezenoff; Libertarian Herb Peters, a retired aerospace engineer; and Republican John Kanaley, a Long Beach police officer.

In the heavily Democratic district, Richardson is considered the overwhelming favorite.

“I understand the odds,” Brezenoff said. “She has more staff, more money, more political connections. I’m going to do the best I can, make some noise and I think we can surprise some people.”

Derek Humphrey, Richardson’s campaign manager, said his candidate is up for the challenge: “We are going to campaign hard.”

In Tuesday’s results, Richardson had 37.8% of the total, compared with second-place finisher, state Sen. Jenny Oropeza (D-Long Beach), who had 31%. In third place was Democrat Valerie McDonald, daughter of Millender-McDonald, with 9%, followed by Kanaley at 7.6%.

According to the Los Angeles County registrar-recorder, 11% of the district’s 265,000 registered voters cast ballots in the election. The district encompasses Compton, Carson, much of Long Beach and parts of South Los Angeles.

--

john.mitchell@latimes.com

Advertisement
Advertisement