Los Angeles County voters in dark blue districts elected three new Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday.
The Associated Press has called three congressional races for Luz Rivas in the San Fernando Valley, Laura Friedman in Central Los Angeles and Gil Cisneros in the San Gabriel Valley.
All three candidates were running from constituencies where there were no incumbents seeking re-election.
29th Congressional District: Luz Rivas
Luz Rivas will become the first Latina to represent the San Fernando Valley’s 29th Congressional District, replacing U.S. Rep. Tony Cárdenas, who decided not to seek re-election last year.
Safe Democratic districts include the city of San Fernando and more than a dozen districts in Los Angeles, including North Hollywood, Van Nuys, Sun Valley and Sylmar.
Rivas defeated Republican Benito “Benny” Bernal, a longtime Valley resident and community advocate who has previously run for Congress and the Los Angeles City Council.
Rivas previously spent six years in the state Legislature focusing on environmental issues and running a Pacoima-based nonprofit that encourages girls to pursue careers in science, math and engineering.
30th Congressional District: Laura Friedman
Glendale Democrat Laura Friedman will fill the downtown Los Angeles seat vacated by Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank), who was elected to the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.
The district covers a large area of central Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, and is also home to several major Hollywood studios, as well as some of the county’s most famous landmarks, including the Rose Bowl, Griffith Observatory, and the Los Angeles County Museum. there is. of art.
Friedman defeated first-time Republican candidate Alex Balekian, who works as a doctor. He previously worked as a film and television executive, but entered politics in his 40s, winning a seat on the Glendale City Council and, in 2016, a seat in the state Legislature.
31st Congressional District: Gil Cisneros
Voters in the San Gabriel Valley elected the first new lawmaker in a generation Tuesday to replace retiring longtime Democratic congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano.
Gil Cisneros defeated Republican Daniel Martinez in the race to represent a safe Democratic district that includes West Covina, El Monte, Baldwin Park and Glendora.
Mr. Cisernos won a $266 million Mega Millions jackpot in 2010, two weeks after he was fired from Frito-Lay. He loaned his campaign $5.45 million this year and won a competitive primary, according to federal filings.
Cisneros was first elected to the 31st District, but is returning to Congress. He served one term representing a district that spans parts of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties before being defeated by Republican Rep. Young Kim in 2020.
