With several incumbents terming out in state and federal offices across the San Gabriel Valley, a new slate of representatives is set to bring fresh perspectives to representing the region.
Key races with “new faces” include the 31st Congressional District, State Senate District 25, as well as State Assembly Districts 41 and 53.
All candidates in these races are non-incumbents, and while not every contest has a clear winner yet, post-election night updates from the Los Angeles County Registrar’s Office continue to shed light on the results, with the latest batch released at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7.
LIVE ELECTION RESULTS: See a chart of the latest vote counts
In some cases, however, the outcomes are becoming clear. For instance, Democrat Gil Cisneros has been declared as the winner in Congressional District 31, succeeding longtime Rep. Grace Napolitano in representing a district that spans communities like El Monte, Baldwin Park, West Covina, Monrovia, Azusa, La Verne and Irwindale. Cisneros was competing against Republican Daniel Jose Bocic Martinez.
During a phone interview Thursday, Cisneros said that he is excited about the opportunity to serve.
“I’m excited that the people of the 31st District put their faith in me to be their representative in Washington, D.C., to be their advocate, and to be their voice,” he said. “It’s not a responsibility that I take lightly, and I’m excited about the opportunity that we have to go back and make a difference and support the people here back home.”
Cisneros outlined his top priorities, which include strengthening the economy, protecting the environment and “common sense gun legislation”, as well as securing funds for local jurisdictions to support infrastructures and services in the district.
Though not an incumbent for this particular district, Cisneros brings extensive political experience, having previously represented California’s 39th Congressional District and served in the Biden Administration as Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
Reflecting on the transition, Cisneros said he has “big shoes to fill in Grace Napolitano,” who has “been a staple here in the San Gabriel Valley for a long time.”
“But I think the perspective that I bring, my background not only in national security, my business background, my experience as a veteran, are all things that I will be able to bring to the table that I think will enable for me to help the community more, having the insight on these things and then having a different perspective than previously,” Cisneros added.
Another race featuring non-incumbents is State Senate District 25, where Alhambra Mayor Sasha Renée Pérez, a Democrat, is running against Crescenta Valley Town Councilmember Elizabeth Wong Ahlers, a Republican.
Related story: Day 1 results for the State Senate District 25 race
This race determines the successor to state Sen. Anthony Portantino, who has reached his term limit.
According to the second post-election night result released by the registrar’s office Thursday afternoon, Pérez continued to lead with nearly 60% of the votes, while Ahlers had received around 40%.
Senate District 25 represents parts of the San Fernando, San Gabriel and Pomona valleys in northeastern L.A. County. The district includes all or parts of Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Monrovia, Glendora and Claremont.
In another race, longtime Assemblymember Chris Holden is terming out of his District 41 seat.
Former Altadena City Councilmember Michelle Del Rosario Martinez, a Republican, is running against Democrat John Harabedian, former mayor of Sierra Madre, to succeed Holden.
As of Thursday afternoon, Harabedian led with around 64% of the votes, while Martinez held nearly 36%.
This district represents voters in Pasadena, Altadena, La Cañada Flintridge, Monrovia and Sierra Madre in L.A. County and Rancho Cucamonga, Wrightwood and San Antonio Heights in San Bernardino County.
In State Assembly District 53, Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez, D-Pomona, has reached his term limit. His wife, Michelle Rodriguez, a commissioner for the California Police Officer Standards and Training Commission, is vying to succeed him. She faces off against Nick Wilson, a law enforcement educator.
As of Thursday afternoon, Rodriguez, a Democrat, holds a strong lead with nearly 63% of the votes, while Wilson, a Republican, trails with around 37%.
In a statement to SCNG Thursday, Rodriguez expressed gratitude for the support of her community, saying she feels “proud and honored that my neighbors and voters elected me to the State Assembly.”
“As a working-class mom who has dedicated her life to safer schools and neighborhoods, I’m not a typical candidate,” she said. “The voters clearly wanted a voice like their own in the State Assembly — someone who understands what it is like for working families to make ends meet with the high cost of living.”
The 53rd Assembly District is home to approximately 475,714 people living in Pomona, Ontario, Chino, Upland, and Montclair.