State Senator Nguyen Lost In SE LB By 3,091 Votes...And Lost The Election To Dem Challenger Umberg By Just 3,089 Votes

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State Senator Umberg Is Sworn Into Office As Final Tally Shows Now-Former State Senator Nguyen Lost In SE LB By 3,091 Votes...And Lost The Election By 3,089 Votes

Former Repub incumbent irked SE LB by voting for Dem-backed SB 562 (enabler for costly new downtown LB Civic Center) & SB 35 ("streamlined" certain increased housing density that overrides certain local zoning req'ts and resident appeals)

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(Dec. 3, 2018) -- Newly elected state Senator Tom Umberg (D, SE LB-West OC) was sworn into office today (Dec. 3) issuing a statement (below) saying it was important to "continue to invest in quality healthcare, education and affordable housing" just days after a final vote tally showed now-former state Senator Janet Nguyen, a Republican refugee/immigrant from Vietnam with a voter-stronghold in "Little Saigon," lost the election by nearly the exact number of votes in SE LB by which she lost the election overall.

L.A. County Registrar/Recorder final tally:

Umberg: 16,939
Nguyen: 13,848
SE LB margin: 3,091 votes
CA Secretary of State final tally (OC + SE LB)
Umberg: 135,062
Nguyen: 131,973
Overall election margin: 3,089 votes

Sen. Nguyen's loss effectively helped cement a more than 2/3 state Senate Dem majority. Nguyen surprised and angered a number of SE LB voters (Repubs, Dems and independents) by voting for two controversial Dem-backed bills: SB 35 (by state Senator Scott Wiener, D, SF, "streamlining" certain increased housing density by overriding some local zoning and erasing certain grounds for neighborhood CEQA appeals) and SB 562 (carried for LB city officialdom by state Senator Ricardo Lara, D-LB-Huntington Park (that helped facilitate the controversial and costly LB Civic Center transaction.)

Although it's unlikely Sen. Nguyen would have received 100% of the SE LB vote margin, it's unknown and unknowable how many additional SE LB votes -- from Dems, Repubs and indies -- she might have received had she prominently opposed those two bills. The downtown Civic Center transaction wasn't popular in SE LB, and SB 35 was a very hot topic among engaged SE LB voters, amplified by fierce SE LB opposition to a then-advancing LB city staff proposed revision to LB's Land Use Element (LUE) that could have invited increased heights/density in historically low-density SE LB.

At their Feb. 2018 state convention, CA Dem party activists endorsed former Assemblyman Umberg, whose candidacy publicly surfaced just days prior to the convention supported by (among others) former LB Mayor Bob Foster and former state Senator Betty Karnette. The party's endorsement of Umberg effectively derailed the candidacy (announced months earlier) of former LB Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, who while on the Council defied then-Mayor Foster on a number of issues and was the sole Council vote against the Foster-supported Civic Center transaction. Without the party's endorsement for the state Senate seat -- and its access to party campaign funds and resources -- Schipske bowed out of the race.

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Senator Umberg was sworn into office earlier today (Dec. 3.) and issued tbe following statement:

It is truly an honor and privilege to serve the residents of the 34th Senate District. The issues we face in 2019 and beyond require all of us to work with a common purpose toward a stronger future for all Californians. While our state is currently enjoying a strong economy and has done well at building up the Rainy Day Fund, it is important that we continue to invest in quality healthcare, education and affordable housing to protect and improve the quality of life for all Californians.
As State Senator, I will always fight to deliver a fair share of resources to our region so that everyone has a chance to own a home, live in a safe neighborhood, have access to quality healthcare and send their children to the best schools possible. I'm looking forward to working with my colleagues in both houses to continue strengthening our great state and delivering for all Californians.

Sac'to's legislature reconvenes for the 2019-20 legislative session on Monday, January 7, 2019.

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