In a race where the two candidates are separated by less than 1%, it appears that Laura Richardson has emerged the victor over former Compton City Councilwoman Michelle Chambers in a very expensive, and sometimes nasty campaign to succeed State Senator Steve Bradford for the Senate District 35 seat.
After weeks of ballot counting, Richardson narrowly won the race but has maintained her lead since election night. With the race so tight, many Chambers supporters believed she could close the gap, but that gap closure never appeared and at no time has Laura Richardson lost her lead.
Richardson, a moderate Democrat, is no stranger to public office. She served as a Long Beach Councilwoman before moving on to the California Assembly where she also served as Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore. Richardson was the first African American and South Bay representative to serve in this position.
Richardson then went on to succeed Juanita Millender-McDonald in the U.S. House of Representatives where she served for six years representing California’s 37th Congressional District. However, after redistricting she was defeated by Janice Hahn.
“Two years ago, I began this journey with the goal of using every skill, experience and working relationship to advance the people in the 35th Senate District. From day one, I committed to meetings, discussions, attending local events and neighborhood council meetings to listen and embody the issues and challenges people were facing in the District so that I could ultimately bring value and results. I’m humbled that voters have given me the charge to do the work on their behalf and I am ready, willing and able to do so,” said Senator-Elect Richardson.
“Likewise, I am grateful for the neighbors, community leaders, local Mayors, Councilmembers and Congresswoman Waters who stood by me during the campaign demonstrating to the public that elected officials can work together and achieve common goals on behalf of the residents we serve and that we are poised to work collaboratively to bring the greatest resources, programs and services to the 35th Senate District,” she insisted.
“I am here to serve everyone in this district. I will listen, I will work hard, and I will fight for you,”
Chambers wrote in a statement that she was “proud of the campaign we ran,” thanking supporters who canvassed, phone-banked or cast votes for her “vision of better jobs, better wages and a California that works for everybody, not just the wealthy and well-connected.”
“This was the closest state senate race in the state, but unfortunately it appears that we will fall just short of victory,” she added.
“Our people-powered efforts were not quite enough to overcome millions of dollars in outside spending on lies from the oil and tobacco industry and their allies.”
Carson, Compton are a large part of the 35th Senate District, which snakes its way all the way down to the Port of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Harbor. With prominent businesses and Cal State University of Dominguez Hills as part of Richardson’s District.
At times during the lengthy campaign season, the race got nasty with each candidate slinging mud and bringing forward old allegations from the other times serving as elected officials. Given the voter turnout and the slim margins between the two candidates’ voters don’t appear to be swayed either way by the two candidates past discretions.
“It’s been said voters are very forgiving, and if you stand up and you accept responsibility and you improve in the work that you do — we need people who’ve been through things, who understand what it’s like to have had difficulties,” said Richardson in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “And so that’s exactly what I did. I didn’t shy away from it.”
