Republican Elan Carr came in first in California's 33rd Congressional District primary race for the seat being vacated by veteran Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman, according to
The Hollywood Reporter.
Carr will face State Sen. Ted Lieu, who has the backing of the Democratic establishment, in the November general election. Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel, a former motion picture industry executive, who was supported by Hollywood moguls Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen came in third place.
The district has been characterized as California's equivalent of Manhattan's Upper West Side – solidly liberal and heavily Jewish. The district stretches from South Bay in Los Angeles to Malibu, and from Santa Monica on to Brentwood, Bel Air, Beverly Hills, and Hancock Park, according to the Reporter.
With 10 Democrats on the ballot the Democratic vote was split in the 18-candidate race allowing Carr to garner a plurality of 21.5 percent of the vote,
The Los Angeles Times reported. Lieu captured 19 percent of the ballots, while Greuel came in third with 16.8 percent.
The state follows an open primary system with the top two vote getters competing in the November election. Together the 18 candidates spent $6.2 million on the campaign.
Carr said he was outspent 4-1 in the race.
The Republican victor is an Iraq war veteran and L.A. County District Attorney's Office gang prosecutor. His mother and stepfather both found refuge in Israel before immigrating to the United States. Carr reportedly speaks fluent Hebrew.
He was endorsed by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Dennis Prager, the conservative-leaning syndicated radio talk-show host and columnist.
There are 53 representatives in California's U.S. House Representatives delegation, 38 Democrats and 15 Republicans.
Related Stories
Republicans Optimistic on Recapturing Calif. House Seats
Good Riddance, Henry Waxman
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.