Gil Cisneros leads in early results for the 31st Congressional District seat
Gil Cisneros, a former congressman and Democrat, was leading early in the race for the 31st Congressional District seat on Tuesdayafter the Los Angeles County registrar's office released its first round of results for the 2024 statewide primary election.
Cisneros had 24% of votes tallied at that point. Next was Republican Daniel Jose Bocic Martinez with 19%, based on early results from the registrar.
Democratic state Sen. Susan Rubio followed with 17% of votes in the race for the congressional district that encompasses core San Gabriel Valley cities.
Republican Pedro `Antonio' Casas was at 14%; state Sen. Bob Archuleta, D-Pico Rivera, at 11%; fellow Democrat Mary Ann Lutz at 6%; Greg Hafif, a self-described moderate Democrat at 4%; Democrat Kurt Jose at 1%; Eriskine Levi, a conservative, at 1%; and Marie Manvel, running as No Party Preference, at 0.6%.
The two top candidates will advance to the general election in November.
Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-El Monte, announced her retirement from District 31 back in July, leaving a competitive race for who would take the seat.
California's 31st Congressional District covers several cities and communities in the San Gabriel Valley such as El Monte, West Covina, Covina, Baldwin Park,
Azusa, Bradbury, Duarte, Irwindale, South El Monte, City of Industry, La Puente, Avocado Heights, West Puente Valley, Valinda, Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Monrovia.
As of the 2020 Census, Napolitano represented an average of 730,452 residents. The majority of the district is Hispanic (61.8%) and the other half is primarily Asian (19.8%) and White (19.2%).
Napolitano has served Los Angeles County for over 30 years and is in her 13th term in Congress.
Candidates have discussed issues such as affordable housing, homelessness and climate change on the campaign trail.
Cisneros and Martinez have said trying to solve homelessness also means investing in solving a mental health crisis.
Cisneros said that government-backed loans should help give people the opportunity to buy a house. He added that state, federal and local governments need to work together to develop policies that will help solve housing issues.
As a state senator representing an overlapping area, Rubio said she is already working on collaborating with cities in her district to create more affordable housing. She emphasized that many people who are homeless are those who have lost their jobs and can't afford to continue living where they were. Workforce development should also be in plans to address both issues.
Cisneros says he wants to stand up women's rights, limit the influence lobbyists, improve education and fight for gun safety measures.
Martinez says that those elected to Congress should be present and more accurately represent their constituents. He also wants to find a way to change the orientation of the economy to reduce pollution.
Rubio's platform includes policies that would ending domestic violence, strengthen the education system and advocate for women's rights such as reproductive rights, support for small businesses and nonprofit organizations.