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Democrats maintain control in California

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In contrast to the national results where republicans claimed victory by taking control of the U.S. Senate (52 versus 45) and the House of Representatives 244 to 179, Democrats maintained control of key state-wide offices and the legislature in California.

Despite a low turnout of 25.25 percent of registered voters in L.A. County, democrats easily bested their Republican rivals in all the state offices according to semi-official results. (See results to the right.)

They also were able to maintain control of the state legislature, although they no longer have a super majority. In local races, State Sen. Holly Mitchell defeated her democratic opponent Isidro Armenta 68.7 to 31.3 percent (57,753 vs. 26,346.)

In the state assembly, Reggie Jones Sawyer ran unopposed in the 59th District while Autumn Burke continues her family’s political legacy by defeating her Republican rival Ted J. Grose 75.7 to 24.3 percent. She joins Sebastian Ridley-Thomas as the second generation of local African Americans to follow in a parent’s political footsteps.

Ridley-Thomas, son of Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark, also defeated his opponent Glen Ratcliff 78.3 to 21.7 percent to win the right to represent the 54th Assembly District again.

Burke follows the footsteps of her mother Yvonne Braithwaite, who was the first African American woman to represent the West Coast in Congress. Additionally she served in the state assembly and as a member of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors.

In the critical race for sheriff, voters opted to bring new blood to the controversial law enforcement agency by choosing Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell with 74.83 percent of the vote rather than department insider Paul Tanaka, who collected only 25.17 percent of ballots cast.

In the Inglewood municipal election, incumbent James T. Butts Jr. handily defeated three opponents to avoid a run-off.

On the national front, the Democratic Party took a dramatic hit during Tuesday’s midterm elections. Republicans will hold at least 52 seats in the Senate and hold the largest House majority since World War II, according to CNN projections.

Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader of the Senate and presumptive majority leader in the new session, offered a preview Wednesday of the combative approach he may take in running the Senate during President Barack Obama’s final years in office.

“There certainly are going to be areas of disagreement,” the Kentucky Republican, who is expected to become the next Senate majority leader, said in his first comments since the GOP took control of the chamber.

McConnell disagreed with the administration’s approach on everything from the environment to healthcare and banking regulations.

Still, he offered to explore common ground on areas like tax reform and international trade. He also vowed to get the Senate back to its traditional work order, allowing amendments on both sides and empowering committees.

“The American people have changed the Senate, so I think we have an obligation to change the behavior of the Senate,” McConnell said. “That doesn’t guarantee that the president is going to agree with everything we do.”

Governor

Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown     3,049,385   58.7%

Neel Kashkari       2,147,271   41.3%

Lt. Gov.

Gavin Newsom        2,856,458   55.9%

Ron Nehring     2,250,038   44.1%

Secretary of State

Alex Padilla        2,647,758   52.5%

Pete Peterson       2,396,986   47.5%

Controller

Betty T. Yee        2,650,965   52.8%

Ashley Swearengin   2,374,530   47.2%

Treasurer

John Chiang     2,914,904   57.7%

Greg Conlon     2,140,404   42.3%

Attorney General

Kamala D. Harris        2,858,461   56.3%

Ronald Gold     2,222,395   43.7%

Insurance Commissioner

Dave Jones      2,817,654   56.3%

Ted Gaines      2,186,799   43.7%

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Tom Torlakson       2,266,425   52.1%

Marshall Tuck       2,084,936   47.9%

Propositions

Yes 1   Funding Water Quality, Supply,

Treatment, Storage 6

Yes 2   State Budget Stabilization

Account

No  45  Healthcare Insurance Rate

Changes

No  46  Doctor Drug Testing, Medical

Negligence

Yes 47  Criminal Sentences,

Misdemeanor Penalties

No  48  Indian Gaming Compacts

Referendum

Board of Equalization

Jerome E. Horton        645,746 61.8%

G. Rick Marshall        399,760 38.2%

House of Representatives

Maxine Waters       53,433  70.4%

John Wood, Jr.      22,478  29.6%

Karen Bass      70,900  83.8%

R. Adam King        13,660  16.2%

Janice Hahn     46,802  87.0%

Adam Shbeita        6,982   13.0%

State Assembly 53rd District

Sandra Mendoza (DEM)    8,761   35.8%

Miguel Santiago DEM)    15,681  64.2%

54th District

Sebastian Ridley-Thomas 48,134  78.3%

Glen Ratcliff       13,308  21.7%

59th District

Reggie Jones-Sawyer 21,769  100.0%

62nd District

Autumn Burke        41,888  75.7%

Ted J. Grose        13,440  24.3%

Mike Gipson     24,094  64.1%

Prophet La’Omar Walker  13,512  35.9%

Assessor

Jeffrey Prang               442,453    50.52%

John Morris                 433,417    49.48%

Compton

Compton Community Measure C

Yes             15,948    77.90%

No                4,525    22.10%

CNN contributed to this story.

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