Voters will decide who will go to the State Capitol in Sacramento during the November General Election. (photo by Edwin Folven)

Updated June 8: The race for the California State Senate Seat in District 24 shifted significantly by approximately 5 p.m. on June 8. Democrat John Erickson received 58,588 votes, Democrat Brian Goldsmith received 53,321 votes and Republican G. Rick Marshall received 50,970 votes. The top two vote-getters will advance to a runoff in November.

Updated June 5: The race for the California State Senate Seat in District 24 tightened on June 5. Republican G. Rick Marshall received 40,789 votes, while Democrat Brian Goldsmith received 38,984 and Democrat John Erickson received 35,751 as of 5 p.m.

As the results in the California primary election on June 2 became clearer, several candidates representing Los Angeles advanced to November runoffs while others remained locked in closely contested races. In California’s unique jungle primary system for state seats, the top two vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation.

In the race for who will represent California’s 36th Congressional District – which includes Beverly Hills, West L.A. and a large swatch of the coast from Santa Monica to Rancho Palos Verdes – incumbent Democrat Ted Lieu, who received over 57% of the vote as of June 3, will likely face one of two Republican challengers. GOP candidates Houston Brignano and Melissa Toomim have 18% and 15% of the vote, respectively.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Laura Friedman, a Democrat who represents the 30th District including West Hollywood, Miracle Mile, Glendale and Burbank, will advance to the general election, receiving over 50% of votes as of June 3. She will likely face Republican Scott Alan Meyers, who has received 20% of the vote as of June 3.

“Thank you to the voters of CA-30 for once again placing your trust in me,” Friedman said. “I’m grateful to have such strong support as I move forward to the general election. I hope to earn your vote to continue serving as your representative in November. In the meantime, I’ll keep standing up to Trump’s attacks on democracy, affordability, health care and our state.”

The State Senate District 24 race to replace Democrat Ben Allen, who is termed out, remains close. As of June 3, Republican G. Rick Marshall had 20% of the vote, while Democrat Brian Goldsmith had approximately 18% of the vote and Democrat John Erickson, a West Hollywood City Councilman, had 16%.

“I am at once elated and disappointed with yesterday’s election outcome,” Marshall said. “Elated that a plurality of voters in Senate District 24 put me in first place in the latest results, and disappointed that the other Republican, Kirstina Irwin, did not join me in the top two runoff, as was our aim.”

Marshall lamented what he called the “one party rule” of Democrats in Sacramento and said he will “disrupt the disrupters and return California to sanity, safety and happiness.”

“It’s essential that every vote is counted and each voter’s voice is heard in this important election,” Goldsmith said. “But I’m confident that when we have the final count, we will have built a coalition to advance into the general election. While we wait for the final numbers, I want to thank everyone who joined us on this journey. Over the past year, we’ve gotten to know incredible people across the district who have shared their stories. I am so grateful that our focus on safety, affordability and results has resonated.”

“It’s way too early to tell much of anything as we just don’t know how many ballots have yet to be counted,” Erickson said.

Allen is currently running for state insurance commissioner, and has received 19% of the vote while fellow Democrat Jane Kim has received approximately 24% as of June 3.

“Last night, California made clear they want an insurance commissioner who will take on the corporations who have abandoned California and driven up the cost of living,” Kim said. “I’m deeply grateful to have come out on top in a field of 11 candidates, and to have won counties from Imperial and Los Angeles to Siskiyou and San Francisco. This is a clear mandate for a commissioner who will fight for working people. On to November.”

Allen did not provide a comment by press time.

In State Assembly District 51, which includes portions of the L.A. region from Santa Monica to East Hollywood, incumbent Democrat Rick Chavez Zbur will advance to the November general election, receiving 53% of the vote as of June 3. Zbur will likely face Democrat Colin Hernandez, who had 18% of the vote as of June 3.

“People in Assembly District 51 want change,” Hernandez said. “They want something to vote for rather than something to vote against. Last night, we defeated two Republicans, one of whom had the blessing of the L.A. GOP, and one far-right libertarian independent. We accomplished all this by raising roughly $20,000, because people believed in our message that better things are possible in California. Now we will go up against Zbur, my former Equality California boss, in November. He is a fundraising behemoth and the face of California Democratic establishment politics – a style of politics that has failed so many working people here in California. It’s going to be an uphill battle, but it’s not impossible”

Zbur did not provide a comment by press time.

All results listed as of 2 p.m. on June 3, according to the California Secretary of State.