Two Burbank candidates appear to be headed for runoffs in the November 2024 General Election. Primary ballots are still being counted. The official final tally will be announced towards the end of the month when the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder County Clerk certifies the March 5 Primary election results. Nonetheless, U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) and Burbank Mayor Nick Schultz will have their names on the upcoming November ballot.
CA Senate Race
Schiff is on the cusp of a double victory in the competitive race to replace the late Senator Dianne Feinstein. Schiff leads a long list of candidates with 37.0% and 560,819 votes as of March 18. Also, he is set to face off against the opponent of his choice, Republican newcomer and baseball legend Steve Garvey. The former Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres first baseman has 24.46% and 370,663 votes.
Schiff and challenger U.S. Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine) fought for the top two spots for most of the race. Weeks before the election, Schiff and his allies spent millions of dollars on TV ads to boost Garvey among Republican voters, a tricky maneuver that has been widely criticized. Los Angeles Times political columnist George Skelton referred to the tactic as “savvy but stinky.” Most important to Schiff, it worked. Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-to-1 in the state. So Schiff now has a massive advantage over first-time candidate Gravey.
Right now, Katie Porter is third with 15.65% and 237,182 votes, and Barbara Lee is fourth with 11.11% and 168,432 votes.
House of Representatives District 30
The contest for Schiff’s seat in the House will also be settled in a November runoff. State Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) is in first place with 30.09% and 46,278 votes, followed by Republican Alex Balekian with 17.43% and 26,801 votes. Burbank State Senator Anthony Portantino sits in third place with 13.29% and 20,434 votes.
State Senate District 25
In the case of Portantino’s State Senate seat, Democrat Sasha Renée Pérez leads with 34.32% and 64,579 votes. Sitting in second place, Republican Elizabeth Wong Ahlers with 33.59% and 63,193 votes. Pérez is Vice Mayor of the City of Alhambra. Ahlers is a Crescenta Town Valley Council member.
State Assembly District 44
Burbank Mayor Nick Schultz is on top of the list of candidates vying to fill Friedman’s seat in the State Assembly. Schultz has 28.26% and 31,092 votes. Republican Tony Rodriguez is in second place with 25.66% and 28,241 votes. In sixth place is Burbank Board of Library Trustees member Carmenita Helligar, with 5.61% and 6,171 votes.
Burbank City Council Race in November
Schultz’s seat on the Burbank City Council is up for reelection this fall. Unless the final primary election results dramatically change, Schultz will be on the General Election ballot running for a State Assembly seat. Earlier this month, Schultz sent out this message.
Meanwhile, Burbank City Councilmember Konstantine Anthony’s message to his supporters attempted to put a positive spin on his loss for Los Angeles Supervisor in District 5. At this point, incumbent Republican Kathryn Barger has more than 50 percent of the vote and, therefore, will retain her seat. Barger has 56.82% and 197,893 votes. Followed by State Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) with 21.92% and 76,334 votes. Councilmember Anthony is in third with 11.41% and 39,756 votes.
Anthony’s term on the city council also expires this fall. The councilmember has not yet announced whether he plans to seek reelection.
However, the race for the two seats on the Burbank City Council is already underway. Recently, long-time Burbank city employee now retired, Judie Wilke and realtor Christopher Rizzotti announced their candidacies.
