There were two special elections yesterday in fairly partisan districts, and we missed them. Sorry about that.  Let’s start with Republican-heavy SD-37:

Bill Emmerson (Rep) 36,507 41.61%

Matt Monica (AI) 3,884 4.43%

Anna Nevenic (Dem) 7,524 8.58%

A. B. Guerrero (Dem) 6,283 7.16%

David W. Peters (Rep) 2,036 2.32%

Justin Blake (Dem) 12,253 13.97%

Russ Bogh (Rep)        19,247 21.94%

The bolded names are the ones that will go on to the next round of elections, which I believe will be combined with the June 8 primary. This was to fill the seat of former Senator turned Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit.  Emerson, a right-winger by any standards currently represents AD-63, and will be the favorite in the next round of elections. However, Justin Blake is a really bright guy, and a pretty good candidate. Obviously, this is a long shot for him, but check out his website for more information.  

In AD-43, several Democrats are vying to replace Paul Krekorian, who left for the LA City Council.

MIKE GATTO             DEM                10,584    32.34

SUNDER   RAMANI        REP                       10,403    31.79

NAYIRI NAHABEDIAN      DEM                                 7,298    22.30

CHAHE KEUROGHELIAN     DEM                                 4,444    13.58

So, it’s going to be Gatto, who had a big money advantage over his closest competitor Nahabedian.  Mike Gatto has been Rep. Brad Sherman’s chief of staff, and is not the most progressive candidate ever.  This district has a heavily Armenian electorate, and while it votes for Democrats, you can occasionally get some interesting contests.  Gatto, barring some major upset, should cruise to the seat in June. The only question will be whether either of the Dems try to continue their campaigns on into the June 8 regular primary for this seat.  It usually doesn’t happen, but you never know with special elections.

There’s nothing like an Assemblyman who abandons his old seat mid-term to run in a district that he doesn’t represent.  This is the case with Asm. Bill Emmerson (R-Redlands Hemet) as he clearly wants the SD-37 seat that is being vacated by John Benoit.

Emmerson, R-Redlands, said he will formally announce his candidacy in the next few days. Assembly members Brian Nestande, R-Palm Desert, and Jeff Miller, R-Corona, said Thursday they are strongly considering a run, as is former Assemblyman Russ Bogh, R-Beaumont.

Democrat Justin Blake, a member of the Palm Springs school board, announced his candidacy for the seat Thursday.

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Redlands, though, isn’t in the 37th, which extends from Corona to Coachella and includes none of San Bernardino County. Emmerson said he is renting a home in Hemet, which is where he grew up and ran a dental practice. The city is fully within the 37th.

“I have a lot of friends there,” he said.(P-E 11/06/09)

Oh, yes, why I heard that Tom McClintock knew a cat in CA-04 too. And hey, it worked for him, so why not! Asm. Brian Nestande, one of the members who represents a portion of the District, has now said that he will not run for Benoit’s seat.

While Justin Blake might have something of a Google problem, I can assure you that he is not the Internet rip-off guy. He is a Palm Springs school board member and 12 year resident of Rancho Mirage, which, you know, is in the District. No website for him yet, but we’ll be sure to provide plenty of links when he does.