Norma Torres Easily Wins Election to Senate, Next Up: Replacing Michael Rubio

by Brian Leubitz

Norma Torres, the current Assembly member from Pomona, yesterday won election to the Senate, defeating an overmatched Republican in the Top-2 race.

With all precincts reporting, the state Assemblywoman from Pomona got 59.4 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s election, according to figures on the secretary of state’s website. Her Republican challenger, Ontario Mayor Paul Leon, got 40.6 percent.(AP)

The district, split between Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, is heavily Democratic. She only narrowly was pushed to the second round of the special election, and easily had more resources to win the race.

The Senate’s supermajority is intact, but the Assembly will have to wait for the eventual election of Lorena Gonzalez in San Diego’s Assembly special election next week. Gonzalez, the Secretary-Treasurer/CEO of the San Diego Labor Council, is the heavy favorite in the Democratic leaning AD-80. Chula Vista Councilman Steve Castaneda, a Republican turned Democrat, has received very little institutional support, and a similar grassroots response. Either way, a Democrat will take the AD-80 seat, and restore the Democrats 2/3 majority. However, a Gonzalez victory is the preferred outcome for Leadership and progressive activists.

The focus now shifts to replacing Chevron’s Michael Rubio. Rubio left for Chevron a few months ago, and in a low turnout special election, anything can happen. The two strongest candidates are Democratic Supervisor Leticia Perez and former Congressional candidate Republican Andy Vidak. Vidak very narrowly lost to Rep. Costa in 2010, and is seen as a strong candidate. The Republicans see a chance to pick up a seat here, and will be spending what resources they have on the race.

An election date to replace Asm. Torres will be decided upon by Gov. Brown after Torres officially leaves the Assembly.