Two Glendale city officials will square off in race for state Assembly seat following primary
Councilwoman Laura Friedman and City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian led the way in the race for the 43rd District state Assembly seat Tuesday night and will now head to a runoff in November.
Friedman received about 32% of the votes, while Kassakhian got roughly 24%, according to the L.A. County Registrar.
Friedman garnered 24,372 votes, and Kasskhian received 18,618, according to election results.
Both Kassakhian and Friedman are Democrats.
FULL COVERAGE: June 2016 primary election >>
At his headquarters in the Brandview Ballroom banquet hall on election night, Kassakhian said his campaign has been a grassroots effort.
“There’s no doubt that, when you look at who our donors are, who’s contributed to our campaign, the diversity of the groups that coalesced, the Democratic clubs, there’s no doubt in my mind that we’re the candidate of choice for the people,” he said.
Kassakhian has been elected city clerk three times and said he understands the importance of being responsible to his electorate, and he looks forward to the opportunity to take voters’ message to Sacramento, if elected.
At her headquarters at Phoenicia restaurant, Friedman said she knows a lot about what people in Glendale have wanted over the years and she’s spent a lot of time learning about their concerns — as well as concerns of the constituents in the rest of the 43rd district.
“I feel even more committed after talking to people and seeing how great the need is for change, that makes me energized,” she said.
Kassakhian has raised about $685,000 in his bid for state assembly, while Friedman has amassed a war chest of about $665,000.
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Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com
Twitter: @ArinMikailian
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