What a difference two years makes.
In 2022, incumbent Luz Rivas ran unopposed in the 43rd state Assembly District that takes in a large section of the northeast San Fernando Valley.
In the March 5 primary this year, things are totally different. Rivas is running for Congress, leaving the Assembly seat up for grabs. Voters will choose a new representative from six candidates, none of whom has held state office. And the top two vote-getters will face-off in the general election in November, regardless of party designations.
There are 248,586 voters registered in this district. Of those, 138,061 or 56% are Democrats and 33,714 or 14% are Republicans; “no party preference” voters number 50,667 or 24.4%, as of Feb. 10, 2023, the latest numbers available from the California Secretary of State’s website.
This district has a high Democratic registration and a large demographic of Latino residents and it includes the communities of Pacoima, Mission Hills, Sylmar, Arleta, Sun Valley, Panorama City, Lake View Terrace, Valley Glen, Van Nuys and the city of San Fernando.
Though the district has gone through boundary changes, it would be considered a “safe Democratic Latino seat,” Mark Gonzalez, chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, said on Monday, Jan. 31. But the open seat adds a new wrinkle to the race.
Of the six candidates, three are Democrats, one is no party preference (NPP) and two are Republicans. The candidates are: Victoria Garcia (R); Walter Garcia (D); Saul Hurtado (D); Carmenlina Minasova (NPP); Felicia Novick (R); Celeste Rodriguez (D).
Victoria Garcia (R)
She describes herself as a Republican, a commissioner, an attorney and a mother.
In her paperwork filed with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, she lists an address in Sylmar but no contact information. No more information was available. Garcia did not respond to two emails and did not return a phone message from this newspaper.
Walter Garcia (D)
Garcia, who…
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