Updated: Butler Sets Sights Outside South Bay

Update (Tuesday, 12:36 p.m.): In a press release Tuesday, Betsy Butler said, "I am excited to be running in the newly drawn California State 50th Assembly District... I look forward to continuing my work in the State Assembly where I have been fighting for consumers, advocating for working families and protecting the environment."

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Assemblywoman Betsy Butler (D-Marina del Rey) has entered the race for California's 50th Assembly District seat, she told multiple media outlets late last week.

Butler currently represents Assembly District 53, which includes Hermosa Beach. She in November, which was her first election.

Now, Butler plans to move and is aspiring to Assembly District 50, a new district that will represent Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Malibu and West Hollywood—but not Hermosa Beach.

The new 66th Assembly District will include the South Bay.

Butler's primary opponents in Assembly District 50 appear to be Torie Osborn—a liberal activist backed by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl and Sheila Kuehl, among others—and Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom.

Butler, who has lived in Marina del Rey for 20 years, claims she already represents 1.7 percent of the constituents in Assembly District 50, in light of the new district's boundaries.

"I am considered the incumbent in the 50th District," she told The Argonaut. Butler said that she will move north to run in the new district. It is unclear exactly which city she has in mind.

Some of Butler's supporters in the South Bay wanted her to run in the new 66th Assembly District next year against tea party candidate .

Venice resident and political organizer Marta Evry started if she ran against Mintz, who Butler defeated back in November. Evry said that a Butler victory against Mintz would help Democrats reach the two-thirds majority needed in the state Assembly to pass key legislation.

While Butler has spoken with the media about her plans to run for the Assembly District 50 seat, her office has not released any related announcements.