Following the latest post-election update from the Los Angeles County registrar’s office on Tuesday afternoon, March 12, certain tighly contested races across South Bay have stablized, though results are still subject to change as ballots continue to be tallied.
As of Tuesday, the total ballots tallied countywide stood at 1.5 million, which represents a 26.72% voter turnout.
Here’s where the closest races across the South Bay stand, according to the latest updates from the registrar’s office, which were released at 3:59 p.m. Tuesday.
Torrance City Council District 6
Jeremy Gerson, a member of the Torrance Unified School District’s Board of Education, has continued to maintain a lead, albeit a narrow one, over his opponent Torrance Planning Commissioner Tony Yeh.
Gerson had 38.07%, or 1,939 votes, compared to Yeh’s 36.80%, or 1,874 votes. The margin between the candidates expanded by a few votes from the day before, from 60 to 65.
A third candidate, John “Jack” Walser, a longtime business owner in Torrance, lagged further behind the two, with 25.13%, totaling 1,280 votes, as of Tuesday.
The winner of the race will succeed Councilmember Mike Griffiths, who is termed out.
Torrance City Council District 2
Incumbent Bridgett Lewis maintained her edge over challenger, Andrew Lee, an educator and health care director.
Lewis had garnered roughly 54%, or 3,182 of the votes, whereas Lee had secured nearly 46%, totaling 2,701 votes. The gap between the two candidates grew steadily from 437 votes on Monday to 481 votes on Tuesday.
Manhattan Beach’s Measure MB
Measure MB, a parcel tax renewal measure that would continue to bolster Manhattan Beach public schools, has held onto the two-thirds voter threshold needed for passage after Tuesday’s update.
Measure MB had 67.36% support, with 32.64% opposed, when the registrar’s office released its latest update on Tuesday.
Support for the measure has continued to hover above the passing threshold during the last two updates, with yes votes reaching 66.92% and 66.87% on Monday, March 11, and Friday, March 8, respectively.
The measure would extend an expiring $225 annual parcel tax for an additional six years, providing $2.5 million annually for the school district to keep smaller class sizes, more teachers and specialized academic programs.
Congressional District 36
Democratic incumbent Rep. Ted Lieu continued to lead with 68.19% of the vote in the race to represent West L.A. and the South Bay, while the batlle for second place remained close.
Republican investigative journalist Melissa Toomin held around 15% of the vote, followed closely by Republican financial advisor Ariana Hakami with approximately 14%, and business owner Claire Ragge Anderson with 2.42%.
State Senate District 35
The race to succeed the South L.A. County seat, left emptied by termed-out state Sen. Steven Bradford, D-Gardena, and to advance to the November general election as the top-two finish, remained relatively stable. Democrat Laura Richardson continued to lead the primary with nearly 28% of the vote, closely followed by Michelle Chambers, at around 24%. Republican James Arlandus Spencer trailed with nearly 19%, while several other candidates lagged far behind.