Other races

In local races a winner can elude a November runoff by earning more than 50% of the primary votes. But for statewide races, including Assembly and state Senate, and Congressional races, the top two candidates face each other in November regardless of the gap between candidates.

State Assembly District 34: In Southern California's High Desert, two prominent Republican legislators who found themselves sharing the newly formed Assembly District 34 appeared more assured of battling one another in a November runoff.

Assemblyman Thurston “Smitty” Smith, R-Apple Valley, continued to lead with 23,054 votes (31.4%). Runner-up Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale, had 21,551 votes (29.4%),

while Democrat Rita Ramirez Dean trailed with 19,757 votes (26.9%).

State Assembly District 61: Lawndale Mayor Robert Pullen-Miles remains in the lead for the new 61st District, with Democrat Tina Simon McKinnor, a nonprofit director, still firmly in second. The likely runoff between the two in the special election will be to replace Autumn Burke in the current 62nd District — after her stunning resignation. As of Friday, Pullen-Miles had 24,308 votes (38.58%) and McKinnor had 20,455 votes (32.46%).

The newly mapped 61st District includes Inglewood, Venice and Hawthorne.

State Assembly District 69: Long Beach City Councilman Al Austin II solidified his hold on second place with 17,971 votes (26.54%), with third-place candidate Janet Foster getting 12,784 votes (18.88%). Meanwhile, Josh Lowenthal — son of U.S. Rep.Alan Lowenthal

— remained ahead with 30,900 votes (45.64%). The district covers almost all of Long Beach, as well as Signal Hill and most of Carson.

State Senate District 20: In the race for this newly redrawn Latino-voter majority district — which stretches from Burbank to Pacoima to SanFernando to Canoga Park — Democrat Daniel Hertzberg, son of state Senate Majority leader emeritus and former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg — saw his lead slip further. Hertzberg has 33,419 votes (30.82%). Democrat Caroline Menjivar has 32,268 votes (29.76%), trailing him by 1,151 votes. Republican Ely De La Cruz Ayao has 27,678 votes, or 25.53%.

U.S. House District 23: Incumbent Republican Rep. Jay Obernolte had a commanding lead over the other two candidates, with 56,986 votes (60.9%). Meanwhile, Democrat Derek Marshall led fellow Democrat Victorville Councilwoman Blanca Gomez for second place,

with 4,231 votes separating them. This district covers the desert between Antelope Valley and the Nevada border.

U.S. House District 30: G “Maebe A. Girl” Pudlo, who became the first drag performer elected to public office in California by winning a seat on the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council, appears headed for a runoff against power player Rep. Adam Schiff. Schiff continued to pull away, with 62.46%. But runnerup Pudlo widened her lead over third-placer, Republican Ronda Kennedy, by 7,083 votes. Pudlo is a longshot, but is eager to bring attention to transgender people via the campaign.