APA Candidates Have a Significant Presence in June Primary

Rafu Staff Report

Several Asian Pacific American candidates ran for congressional and state legislative seats in the June 7 primary.

A number of them will advance to the November general election under the current system, in which a runoff is held between the top two finishers even if they are from the same party.

Following are some of the California results as of Wednesday afternoon:

Kamala Harris

U.S. Senate

In the race to succeed Sen. Barbara Boxer, who is retiring, Attorney General Kamala Harris was first in a field of 34 candidates with 2,051,048 votes (40.3 percent). Her closest competitor, whom she will face in the November general election, is fellow Democrat Rep. Loretta Sanchez with 943,002 (18.5 percent). If elected, Harris, who is of Indian and Jamaican heritage, would be California’s first African American and first female Asian American senator.

U.S. House of Representatives

Rep. Mike Honda and challenger Ro Khanna

In the 6th Congressional District, which includes parts of Sacramento and Yoo counties, the Democratic incumbent, Doris Matsui, was in first place with 61,518 votes (71.0 percent), followed by Republican Robert “Bob” Evans with 16,166 (18.7 percent). Democrat Jrmar Jefferson and no-party-preference candidates Mario Galvan and Yuriy Seretskiy trailed in single digits. Matsui was first elected in 2005.

In the 7th Congressional District, which covers part of Sacramento County, incumbent Ami Bera, a Democrat, led with 55,922 votes (53.3 percent) and Republican challenger Scott Jones received 48,921 (46.7 percent). Bera was first elected in 2012.

In the 17th Congressional District, which includes parts of Santa Clara and Alameda counties, incumbent Mike Honda and challenger Ro Khanna, both Democrats, were neck-and-neck with 33,785 (38.3 percent) and 33,608 (38.1 percent), respectively, and both will advance to the general election. Republicans Ron Cohen and Peter Kuo, Democrat Pierluigi Oliverio, and Libertarian Kennita Watson finished in single digits. Honda, who was first elected in 2000, defeated Khanna in a hotly contested race in 2014. Honda has served in the Assembly and on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, among other public offices. Khanna served as deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce and is a lecturer in economics at Stanford University. Kuo is a Farmer’s Insurance Agency owner, entrepreneur and business consultant.

In the 27th Congressional District, which includes parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, Democratic incumbent Judy Chu was first with 67,318 votes (65.9 percent) to Republican Jack Orswell’s 29,057 (28.4 percent). Tim Sweeney (NPP) was far behind in third place. Chu, who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, was first elected in 2009.

Ted Lieu

In the 33rd Congressional District, which covers western Los Angeles County, Democratic incumbent Ted Lieu was in the lead with 92,441 votes (69.1 percent) and Republican Kenneth Wright had 41,314 (30.9 percent). Lieu was first elected in 2014.

In the 41st Congressional District (Riverside County), Democratic incumbent Mark Takano led with 36,700 votes (62.8 percent), followed by Republicans Doug Shepherd with 10,864 (18.6 percent), Randy Fox with 9,157 (15.7 percent), and Cody Ryan with 1,701 (2.9 percent). Takano was first elected in 2012.

In the 46th Congressional District, which covers part of Orange County, Democrat Lou Correa was first with 24,184 votes (41.6 percent), followed by Republican Bob Peterson with 8,446 (14.5 percent), Democrat Bao Nguyen with 7,954 (13.7 percent) and Democrat Joe Dunn with 7,414 (12.8 percent). Republicans Lynn Schott, Louie Contreras and Rodolfo Rudy Gaona and no-party-preference candidate Nancy Trinidad Marin were in single digits. Nguyen is the mayor of Garden Grove.

In the 50th Congressional District, which includes parts of San Diego and Riverside counties, Republican incumbent Duncan Hunter led with 55,311 votes (57.2 percent), followed by Democrat Patrick Malloy with 20,987 (21.7 percent), Democrat David Secor with 10,866 (11.2 percent), Republican Scot Meisterlin with 6,630 (6.9 percent) and NPP candidate H. Fuji Shioura with 2,988 (3.1 percent). Shioura said that “FUJI” stands for “Family, Unity, Jesus, Integrity.”

State Senate

In the 3rd Senate District, which includes parts of Contra Costa, Napa, Sacramento, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties, Democrat Bill Dodd was first with 66,340 votes (37.1 percent), followed by Democrat Mariko Yamada, a former member of the Assembly, with 52,017 (29.1 percent), Republican Greg “Coach” Coppes with 41,607 (23.3 percent) and Democrat Gabe Griess with 18,818 (10.5 percent).

Alan Nakanishi

In the 5th Senate District, which includes parts of Sacramento, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, Democratic incumbent Cathleen Galgiani was first with 58,581 votes (56.8 percent), Republican Alan Nakanishi had 28,743 (27.9 percent) and Republican Samuel Anderson had 15,799 (15.3 percent). Nakanishi is a member of the Lodi City Council and a former member of the Assembly.

Jane Kim

In the 11th Senate District, which includes San Francisco and part of San Mateo County, Democrat Scott Wiener was ahead with 83,310 votes (46.0 percent), Democrat Jane Kim had 79,682 (44.0 percent), and Republican Ken Loo had 17,927 (9.9 percent). Both Wiener and Kim serve on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Loo has worked as a firefighter and as a health and public safety consultant for businesses and nonprofits.

Ling Ling Chang

In the 29th Senate District, which includes parts of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties, Assemblymember Ling Ling Chang, a Republican, was in the lead with 52,611 votes (44.7 percent), Democrat Josh Newman was second with 34,334 (29.2 percent) and Democrat Sukhee Kang, former mayor of Irvine, was third with 30,667 (26.1 percent).

In the 35th Senate District, which covers southern Los Angeles County, Democrat Steven Bradford was first with 37,712 votes (36.4 percent), Democrat Warren Furutani was second with 24,744 (23.9 percent), Democrat Isaac Galvan was third with 23,228 (22.4 percent) and Republican Charlotte Ann Svolos was fourth with 18,061 (17.4 percent). Both Bradford and Furutani are former members of the Assembly.

State Assembly

In the 17th Assembly District (San Francisco), Democratic incumbent David Chiu had an overwhelming lead with 81,329 votes (87.9 percent) to Republican Matthew Del Carlo’s 11,150 (12.1 percent). Chiu, formerly a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, was first elected in 2014.

In the 18th Assembly District, which covers part of Alameda County, Democratic incumbent Rob Bonta was far in the lead with 60,092 votes (88.3 percent) to Republican Roseann Slonsky-Breault’s 8,000 (11.7 percent). Bonta was first elected in 2012.

In the 19th Assembly District, which includes San Francisco and part of San Mateo County, Democratic incumbent Phil Ting had a comfortable lead with 63,541 votes (83.0 percent) to Republican Carlos “Chuck” Taylor’s 13,003 (17.0 percent). Ting was first elected in 2012 and was previously San Francisco assessor-recorder.

In the 20th Assembly District, which covers part of Alameda County, Democratic incumbent Bill Quirk led with 42,324 votes (77.2 percent) to Republican Luis Wong’s 12,514 (22.8 percent). Wong is a senior loan officer and independent insurance consultant.

Peter Ohtaki

In the 24th Assembly District, which includes parts of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, Democrat Mark Berman was first with 19,817 votes (28.2 percent), followed by Democrat Vicki Veenker with 15,294 (21.8 percent), Republican Peter Ohtaki with 14,071 (20.0 percent), Democrat Mike Kasperzak with 7,591 (10.8 percent), Democrat Barry Chang with 7,472 (10.6 percent), and Libertarian John Inks and NPP candidate Jay Bias Jacob Cabrera in single digits. Ohtaki is a Menlo Park city councilman and former mayor. Chang is the mayor of Cupertino.

In the 25th Assembly District, which includes parts of Alameda and Santa Clara counties, Democratic incumbent Kansen Chu led with 40,651 votes (74.7 percent) to Republican Bob Brunton’s 13,794 (25.3 percent). Chu was elected in 2014 and previously served on the San Jose City Council.

Madison Nguyen

In the 27th Assembly District, which covers part of Santa Clara County, Democrat Madison Nguyen was the leader with 18,474 votes (35.3 percent), followed by Democrat Ash Kalra with 9,864 (18.8 percent), Republican Van Le with 8,192 (15.7 percent), Democrat Andreas Quintero with 6,534 (12.5 percent), and Democrats Cong Thanh Do, Darcie Green and Esau Herrera in single digits. Nguyen is former vice mayor of San Jose and Kalra is a current councilman.

In the 28th Assembly District, which covers part of Santa Clara County, Democratic incumbent Evan Low was on top with 54,631 votes (70.6 percent) to Republican Nicholas Sciavos’ 22,734 (29.4 percent). Low was first elected in 2014 and previously served on the Campbell City Council.

Vince Fong

In the 34th Assembly District, which covers part of Kern County, Republican Vince Fong was first with 38,410 votes (60.8 percent), followed by Democrat Perrin Swanlund with 15,058 (23.8 percent) and Republicans Ernie Gollehon and Michael Garcia Biglay in single digits. Fong has served as district director for House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy for nearly a decade.

In the 49th Assembly District, which covers part of Los Angeles County, Democratic incumbent Ed Chau was unchallenged and received 32,625 votes. First elected in 2012, he was previously a Montebello Unified School District trustee.

In the 53rd Assembly District, which covers part of Los Angeles County, Democratic incumbent Miguel Santiago was first with 16,316 votes (47.0 percent), followed by fellow Democrats Sandra Mendoza with 13,727 (39.6 percent) and Kevin Jang with 4,646 (13.4 percent). Jang is a member of the Korean American Bar Association and was a delegate of the California Democratic Party.

In the 55th Assembly District, which includes parts of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties, Democrat Gregg Fritchie led with 23,486 votes (36.0 percent), followed by Republicans Philip Chen with 14,081 (21.6 percent), Mike Spence with 13,417 (20.6 percent), Ray Marquez with 7,990 (12.2 percent) and Steven Tye with 6,262 (9.6 percent). Chen served as a trustee of the Walnut Valley Unified School District and a staff member of Supervisor Mike Antonovich.

In the 60th Assembly District, which covers part of Riverside County, Republican Eric Linder was first with 18,472 votes (47.1 percent), Democrat Sabrina Cervantes second with 15,725 (40.1 percent), and Democrat Ken Park third with 4,989 (12.7 percent). Park is a retired educator and small business owner, a commercial realtor, and a community leader.

Young Kim

In the 65th Assembly District, which covers part of Orange County, Democrat Sharon Quirk-Silva received 28,840 votes (53.0 percent) to Republican incumbent Young Kim’s 25,575 (47.0 percent). First elected in 2014, Kim is a businesswoman and financial analyst who served as director of community relations and Asian affairs for Rep. Ed Royce.

In the 66th Assembly District, which covers the South Bay area of Los Angeles County, Democrat Al Muratsuchi, a former member of the Assembly, was ahead with 38,305 votes (48.4 percent) to Republican incumbent David Hadley’s 35,996 (45.4 percent) and Democrat Mike Madrigal’s 4,923 (6.2 percent). Muratsuchi was unseated by Hadley in 2014.

In the 68th Assembly District, which covers part of Orange County, Democrat Sean Jay Panahi was first with 22,965 votes (33.0 percent), followed by Republican Harry Sidhu with 14,247 (20.5 percent), Republican Steven Choi with 13,532 (19.5 percent), Republican Deborah Pauly with 9,840 (14.1 percent) and Republican Kostas Roditis and NPP candidate Brian Chuchua in single digits. Choi is a former Irvine mayor and city councilman.

In the 72nd Assembly District, which covers part of Orange County, Republican incumbent Travis Allen was first with 35,062 votes (50.9 percent), Democrat Lenore Albert-Sheridan second with 20,067 (29.1 percent) and Democrat Nam Pham third with 13,723 (19.9 percent). Pham works for FEMA.