Woman Replaces Disgraced Assemblyman in NoHo's 39th District

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA — Voters headed to the polls Tuesday in North Hollywood for a special election to replace the 39th District's Assemblyman who resigned amid sexual harassment allegations.

In the 39th Assembly District, which includes North Hollywood, Mission Hills, Sylmar, Arleta and Lake View Terrace, Democrat Luz Maria Rivas, a former Los Angeles public works commissioner, defeated Republican Ricardo Antonio Benitez, a business owner, in the race to complete the term of Raul Bocanegra -- who resigned in November in the face of sexual harassment allegations. Bocanegra's term also runs through December.

However, Rivas and Benitez will be battling for the seat once more in November, to take on the full term starting in January.

City News and Patch Staffer contributed to this report.