Mike Garcia Narrowly Leads for Congress as Santa Clarita Republicans Dominate Local Elections

 

By Santa Clarita Star Staff

 

In a surprising election, Republicans in Santa Clarita Valley celebrated major wins across national, state, and local levels, including leads in Congress and the state Senate. The GOP gained ground on school and water boards, with notable victories against incumbents and in competitive races. While Democrats retained some key seats, such as Pilar Schiavo's in the California Assembly, Republican candidates emerged strong in Santa Clarita's closely contested races.

 

Santa Clarita, Calif. – On Election Day, Nov 5, 2024, there were plenty of surprises. Donald Trump won reelection to the White House over Vice President Kamala Harris. Republicans today are jubilant, having not only won the White House and the U.S. Senate, but they also are poised to take back a number of local elected positions in Santa Clarita Valley.

 

Republicans are currently leading in races for Congress, the state Senate, and on school and water boards in Santa Clarita.

 

There were some victories for Democrats, but Republicans are prevailing in elections on the national, state and local levels.

 

Republican Mike Garcia currently has a narrow lead in the race for the 27th Congressional District over Democrat George Whitesides. As of Thursday, November 7, Garcia has 50.68% of the vote and about a 3,000 vote lead.

 

In other races, Republican Suzette Valladares is leading the race for state Senate district 23 over Democrat Kipp Mueller. She has a 53.6% lead while Mueller trails at 46.4%. This district is in both Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties. Valladares is a former state Assemblywoman; she was defeated by Pilar Schiavo in 2022. Kipp Mueller is an attorney who had an extremely close race with incumbent Scott Wilk in 2020.

 

Democrat Pilar Schiavo is winning her reelection bid in the California Assembly over Patrick Gipson. She has a slim lead, 51% to 49%, or by about 4,437 votes. Schiavo’s lead over Gipson has been widening with each update, and she is expected to win reelection.

 

In the race for Los Angeles County District Attorney, Nathan Hochman defeated incumbent George Gascon with 61% of the vote. Hochman ran on a “tough-on-crime” platform; Gascon has been criticized for attempting to implement Progressive policies into the justice system.

 

Democrat Adam Schiff won the election for US Senate over Steve Garvey in a landslide, in both the special election to fill the late Senator Feinstein’s remaining term and a full 6-year term.

 

The race for the lone City Council seat on the ballot is very tight. Tim Burkhart, Patsy Ayala, and Bryce Jepsen are virtually tied and traded for the lead as results came in on election night. Ayala has a 93 vote lead over Burkhart with Bryce Jepsen trailing Ayala by just over 300 votes on November 7, 2024. The race is still too close to call.

 

In the race for Castaic Union School District Board, Erik Richardson won with 59% of the vote over Steven Sansone.

 

In the Newhall School District board race, Suzan Solomon is winning with 64%t of the vote over Mayra Cuellar.

 

There are a couple of close races for the Santa Clarita Community College Board of Trustees.

 

COC Board of Trustees president Edel Alonso is trailing challenger Scott Schauer in the Area 2 race.

 

Businessman Fred Arnold has a commanding lead in the race for Area 3 over Andrew Taban, a former staffer for both Assemblywoman Christy Smith and Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo. Arnold leads with 49% of the vote to 38 percent for Taban.

 

In Area 4, Sharlene Johnson leads incumbent Jerry Danielsen with 55% of the vote.

 

In Area 1, attorney Darlene Trevino holds the lead over Michelle Kampbell, a former staffer for former Assemblywoman Christy Smith, with 57% of the vote.

 

The College of the Canyons has been going through a tumultuous time, with the recent resignation of longtime Chancellor Dianne Van Hook and an exodus of staff at the college. The election pitted the College of the Canyons Faculty Association (COCFA) against members of the COC Foundation for control of the Board. As of right now, it appears that the Foundation is on track to take a majority of the seats on the COC Board of Trustees.

 

In the race for Saugus Union School Board, Katherine Cooper won with 57% of the vote over Moms for Liberty candidate Mark White.

 

Measure N failed. This was a bond measure meant to retrofit facilities in the Saugus Union School District to protect children and teachers from earthquakes. Schools are also meant to be centers for the community during natural disasters such as wildfires and earthquakes. Retrofitting the schools would allow these buildings to survive an earthquake and be used for temporary shelter by residents. SUSD is required to update buildings to comply with state law.

 

In the William S. Hart High School Board race for Area 1, incumbent and longtime board member Linda Storli is losing to Aakash Ahuja who has 39% of the votes. Gloria Mercado Fortine is in second place in the election with 32% of the vote to Storli’s 28%.

 

In William S. Hart High School Governing Board, Area 4, appointed incumbent Erin Wilson is cruising with a 65% lead over Eric Anderson.

 

In the election for Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency, Gary Martin has won reelection and Dan Masnada will replace Beth Braunstein on the Board.

 

In Division 2, Piotr Orzechowski won a second term on the board. Ken Cooper, the son of sitting Board member Bill Cooper, also won a seat on the board.

 

Incumbent Kathye Armitage won the Division 3 full term race with over 60%, defeating Holly Schroeder, an executive at Drink Pac, a manufacturer that manufactures beverages here in Santa Clarita Valley.

 

Ken Petersen has won the Division 3 two-year term race with around 64% of the vote, defeating environmental activist Stacy Fortner.

 

The L.A. County registrar’s office has until December 13, 2024 to certify the results of the election.