Last week, Assembly Member Laura Richardson secured her win in the special election to replace the late Congress Member Juanita Millender-McDonald serving the 37th Congressional District. With 67 percent of the vote, Richardson will now represent the cities of Long Beach and Compton. In June, Assembly Member Richardson was able to win the Democratic nomination, but was not able to win 50 percent of the total vote, requiring last Tuesday’s election.

This seat was considered a “safe” Democratic seat, and her victory over State Senator Jenny Oropeza and the late Congress Member’s daughter, Valerie McDonald, almost guaranteed Ms. Richardson victory in the August primary.

Ms. Richardson may be sworn in to Congress as early as September 4th. When she takes that oath, she will then create an open state Assembly seat, requiring another special election to take place in late October or early November at the Governor’s pleasure.

As for the candidates lined up to vie for Richardson’s old Assembly seat - there are a few currently surfacing to announce their interest, with several more rumored to come forward before the election comes to fruition. Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees member, and a former member of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board, Warren Furutani, has announced his intention to seek this seat. A graduate of Antioch University, Mr. Furutani is currently a senior consultant to Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez, having previously worked for former Speakers Antonio Villaraigosa, Bob Hertzberg and Herb Wesson. He had previously sought this seat in 2006, but was defeated in the primary by Laura Richardson 54 - 46 percent.

Mr. Furutani has been working hard to lock up this seat early on and to show that he is the heir apparent to this seat by releasing a long list of endorsers, which includes Senators Gil Cedillo, Gloria Negrete McLeod and Leland Yee, Assembly Members Mike Eng, Betty Karnette, Ted Lieu, Fiona Ma, Hector De La Torre and Alberto Torrico, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Carson City Councilmember Mike Gipson, also a Democrat, and currently employed by the United Teachers Association (UTLA), has also announced that he would be a candidate for this seat.