San Fernando Valley voters today will choose between Democrats Daniel Hertzberg and Caroline Menjivar to represent state Senate District 20, which includes Canoga Park, Studio City, North Hollywood, Van Nuys, Pacoima and Granada Hills.
Soon after polls close at 8 p.m. early returns will be released in the highly competitive state senate race in a district that is about 50% Latino, 32.5% White, 11% Asian and 5% Black. About 53% are registered Democrats, 16% are Republicans and 24% do not state a preference.
The initial results are composed entirely of vote-by-mail ballots arriving before Election Day. The Los Angeles County registrar’s office will periodically update the results — first ballots cast at Vote Centers before Tuesday, followed by those cast on Election Day — throughout the night.
Check back here for updates on the results of this race.
Hertzberg is the son of Bob Hertzberg, former speaker of the California state Assembly and now state Senate majority leader emeritus, who represents Senate District 18. Bob Hertzberg is running for Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors against Lindsey Horvath, a West Hollywood City Councilwoman.
Daniel Hertzberg, who came in just ahead of Menjivar in the June primary, said his experience in the hospitality industry where he worked as a dishwasher, waiter and maintenance guy let him gain an understanding of working-class families — the majority of residents in state Senate District 20.
Hertzberg calls for more affordable housing, improved healthcare and boosted protection for renters. Other major issues he cited are the environment, immigration, inflation, homelessness and public safety.
Menjivar, a Marine veteran and director of the Pacoima nonprofit organization Meet Each Need with Dignity, which offers food and financial support to low-income residents, is a former East Valley representative for L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Menjivar, 33, emphasized that she is a Latina running in a 50% Latino district and her experience as a social worker would help her lead the district. She studied at UCLA, earned a master’s degree in social welfare, and went on to work as an emergency medical technician.
Some issues impacting residents in the Valley, she said, include environmental justice, housing affordability and mental health.
Hertzberg has raised nearly $1 million and picked up endorsements from U.S. Congressman Tony Cárdenas, the California Nurses Association, Cal Fire Local 2881, and Grocery Workers UFCW Local 770.
Menjivar has been endorsed by state State Sen. Henry Stern, Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, San Fernando Vally Young Democrats and California Environmental Voters and has raised about $1,4 million.