Orange County Voting Counts Complete, Certified Today

With Democrats attempting to regain filibuster-proof super majorities in the state Senate and Assembly, at least one race in Orange County appears to be going well for the party, according to election results certified today.

Sharon Quirk-Silva's attempt to retake her Assembly seat won by incumbent Young Kim, R-Fullerton, two years ago was bolstered by a 54.3 percent to 45.7 percent margin in the June primary. The two will face off again in November.

Democrats need to pick up two more seats in the Assembly and one in the state Senate to enjoy two-thirds majorities. In the 72nd Assembly District, incumbent Travis Allen, R-Huntington Beach, picked up 50.4 percent of the vote. He will square off in November against Democrat Lenore Albert-Sheridan, who won 28.6 percent of the vote.Democrat Nam Pham won 21 percent of the vote.

In the 68th Assembly District, Democrat Sean Jay Panahi won the most votes with 33 percent. Panahi will face Irvine Mayor Steven Choi, who edged former Anaheim City Councilman Harry Sidhu, 19.8 percent to 19.7 percent. The difference in votes was just 154. In the 29th state Senate District, Republican Ling Ling Chang won the most votes with 44.2 percent. Chang will square off against Democrat Josh Newman, who won 30 percent of the vote. Former Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang had 25.8 percent.

In other close races, in the 1st District county supervisor race,incumbent Andrew Do trailed Santa Ana City Councilwoman Michele Martinez, 38.1 to 34.3 percent. Garden Grove City Councilman Phat Bui, who spent most of the campaign taking shots at Do, picked up 18.5 percent of the vote.

Do and his political mentor, state Sen. Janet Nguyen, have had a falling out. Nguyen would not make an endorsement in the election.

Former state Sen. Lou Correa built a commanding lead in his effort to succeed Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Garden Grove, in Congress. Correa won 43.7 percent of the vote against seven other challengers.

Correa will square off against Garden Grove Mayor Bao Nguyen, who won 14.6 percent, in November. Turnout for the June 7 primary was 49.6 percent in Orange County, with 29.2 percent of voters choosing to cast a ballot through the mail and 20.3 percent going to a polling place.

In 2012's presidential primary, Orange County's turnout was 26.5 percent with vote-by-mail balloting at 17.5 percent and turnout at polling places at 9 percent.

City News Service