2017 Los Angeles Elections (Today)

[Mike Thick]

Better late than never.

Eric Garcetti is the far-and-away favorite for another term as Mayor. Activist Mitchell Schwartz is chief among his challengers, but that's a pretty low bar. If Garcetti somehow doesn't avoid a runoff, there might be trouble, but I expect him to easily clear 50% in the first round.

Measure S is a ballot initiative targeting developers, that would put a two-year moratorium on projects affecting the city's general plan and permanently ban such projects on sites smaller than 15 acres. I get the feeling that this could go either way -- it reflects the pretty bad blood between Angelenos and developers, but a bunch of politicos have come out against it, including Garcetti. Definitely one to watch.

A lot of stuff is happening in the council races. Paul Koretz, a two-term incumbent from Westside, is facing a challenge from a young attorney named Jesse Creed. Although Creed doesn't come close to St. Sanders, he seems quite progressive, and is a prodigious fundraiser. I'm going to be watching this pretty closely -- probably not a terrific barometer of liberal enthusiasm given the overlap between the two candidates (and the act that toppling incumbent City Councilmembers is so tough), but interesting nonetheless.

More races in the LA Times's comprehensive guide.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

I prefer better never than late

[Gass3268]

If this was for the Mayor of New York or even Chicago there would be so much more coverage of it in the media, even if it was as uncompetitive as this race is.

[Mike Thick]

I prefer better never than late

Meh. Those who simply must have their fix of regular elections can use this to hold them over until the specials/Gubernatorials/etc.

If this was for the Mayor or New York or even Chicago there would be so much more coverage of it in the media, even if it was as uncompetitive as this race is.

I'd have to agree, yeah. It's a little disappointing.

[KingSweden]

Is it true Garcetti is eyeing Gov once he has his reelection behind him?

[Ronnie]

My votes today:
 
Mayor: Eric Garcetti
City Attorney: Mike Feuer
City Controller: Ron Galperin
City Council District 5: Paul Koretz
Los Angeles School Board District 4: Steve Zimmer
Measure H: Yes
Measure M: Yes
Measure N: No
Measure P: No
Measure S: Yes

[Mike Thick]

Is it true Garcetti is eyeing Gov once he has his reelection behind him?

Maybe. He's widely seen as having aspirations for higher office, but the Governor's race is already well underway, and I imagine that he would be at a pretty significant fundraising disadvantage by the time he entered. Villaraigosa running probably makes it harder for him by drawing from his natural geographic (and perhaps donor) base.

If I were him, I would just hold off until Feinstein retires/croaks (as awkward as it is to say it, one of those things is probably going to come by 2024) and go for that seat.

[Mike Thick]

Results will be reported here.

EDIT: Here too.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

How much of a surprise would it be if Garcetti gets under 50%?

[Mike Thick]

How much of a surprise would it be if Garcetti gets under 50%?

Pretty major -- he's seen as very popular despite some missteps, and none of his challengers are very strong.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

4% in:

Eric Garcetti   80.72%   
53,034
N
Mitchell Jack Schwartz   7.88%   
5,180
N
David Hernandez   3.09%   
2,027
N
Dennis Richter   1.80%   
1,185
N
Diane "Pinky" Harman    1.51%   
989
N
YJ J Draiman   1.23%   
805
N
David "Zuma Dogg" Saltsburg   1.11%   
727
N
Eric Preven   0.93%   
614
N
Yuval Kremer   0.71%   
465
N
Frantz Pierre   0.57%   
376
N
Paul E. Amori   0.46%   
302

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Does anyone know why the remaining 96% of the vote is taking so long to come in?

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

A little movement. Garcetti appears safe, but over 90% of precincts remain uncounted.

Los Angeles City Municipal Election Mayor
N
Eric Garcetti   81.14%   
59,423
N
Mitchell Jack Schwartz   7.59%   
5,559
N
David Hernandez   3.15%   
2,310
N
Dennis Richter   1.71%   
1,252
N
Diane "Pinky" Harman   1.44%   
1,057
N
YJ J Draiman   1.14%   
838
N
David "Zuma Dogg" Saltsburg   1.10%   
807
N
Eric Preven   0.87%   
637
N
Yuval Kremer   0.69%   
504
N
Frantz Pierre   0.68%   
497
N
Paul E. Amori   0.47%   
347
110 of 1,396 precincts reporting (7.88%)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

I am ready to make a call.

Los Angeles City Municipal Election Mayor
N
Eric Garcetti   80.77%   PROJECTED WINNER
73,369
N
Mitchell Jack Schwartz   7.81%   
7,098
N
David Hernandez   3.38%   
3,074
N
Dennis Richter   1.63%   
1,479
N
Diane "Pinky" Harman   1.43%   
1,301
N
David "Zuma Dogg" Saltsburg   1.17%   
1,063
N
YJ J Draiman   1.10%   
1,001
N
Eric Preven   0.87%   
787
N
Frantz Pierre   0.69%   
626
N
Yuval Kremer   0.66%   
598
N
Paul E. Amori   0.49%   
445
266 of 1,396 precincts reporting (19.05%)

[Ronnie]

Turnout was apparently just 11.5% today.  Not surprised; my polling location was completely empty when, on election day, it stretched around the block.  Sad!

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Turnout was apparently just 11.5% today.  Not surprised; my polling location was completely empty when, on election day, it stretched around the block.  Sad!

Votes are still being counted, so that's an estimate, not official.

[pikachu]

I haven't been following these as closely as I should've, but some quick takes as I procrastinate on finishing a paper:

• Looks like Measure S will fail big time, which I'm really happy to see. (33-66 with 47.9% reporting)
• Disappointed that Koretz looks to be surviving by such a large magin, but that was to be expected
• Hopefully Measure H makes it through, but I don't like the odds. (64-36 with 63.5% reporting)

[Interlocutor is just not there yet]

MEASURE H (.25% sales tax increase to fund homeless services)

78.2% in...2/3 needed to win

Yes   65.77%  
311,171    

No   34.23%  
161,954

This is gonna be a nailbiter

[Terry the Fat Shark]

MEASURE H (.25% sales tax increase to fund homeless services)

78.2% in...2/3 needed to win

Yes   65.77%  
311,171    

No   34.23%  
161,954

This is gonna be a nailbiter

2/3? kind of an odd number

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

H passed by a hair

County Measure H
Y
Yes   67.44%   
379,005
N
No   32.56%   
182,969
2,685 of 2,685 precincts reporting (100.0%)

------------

Final Results for Mayor:

Los Angeles City Municipal Election Mayor
N
Eric Garcetti   80.87%   
202,278
N
Mitchell Jack Schwartz   8.22%   
20,561
N
David Hernandez   3.42%   
8,548
N
Diane "Pinky" Harman   1.33%   
3,324
N
David "Zuma Dogg" Saltsburg   1.28%   
3,196
N
Dennis Richter   1.20%   
2,993
N
YJ J Draiman   0.91%   
2,279
N
Eric Preven   0.82%   
2,039
N
Frantz Pierre   0.81%   
2,023
N
Yuval Kremer   0.60%   
1,491
N
Paul E. Amori   0.55%   
1,386
1,396 of 1,396 precincts reporting (100.0%)

Turnout: 250,188
Registration: 2,030,173
Percent: 12.32003380992654%

[MasterJedi]

Nice to see measure s lose in a landslide. Always nice to see neighborhood NIMBYS get humiliated.

[KingSweden]

Nice to see measure s lose in a landslide. Always nice to see neighborhood NIMBYS get humiliated.

The only thing in politics I have strong feelings about is my burning hatred of NIMBYs, especially white liberal big city NIMBYs

[MasterJedi]

Nice to see measure s lose in a landslide. Always nice to see neighborhood NIMBYS get humiliated.

The only thing in politics I have strong feelings about is my burning hatred of NIMBYs, especially white liberal big city NIMBYs

In Milwaukee we get both. The south side neighborhoods are "we don't want apartments here to bring in the poor and colored folks" while on the east side it's "we don't want our view to be blocked even though we blocked the buildings behind us, our view won't be blocked that much and our property value will rise". I just hate NIMBYS wanting to control development in a dense, urban environment.

[Trapsy]

H passed by a hair

County Measure H
Y
Yes   67.44%   
379,005
N
No   32.56%   
182,969
2,685 of 2,685 precincts reporting (100.0%)

------------

Final Results for Mayor:

Los Angeles City Municipal Election Mayor
N
Eric Garcetti   80.87%   
202,278
N
Mitchell Jack Schwartz   8.22%   
20,561
N
David Hernandez   3.42%   
8,548
N
Diane "Pinky" Harman   1.33%   
3,324
N
David "Zuma Dogg" Saltsburg   1.28%   
3,196
N
Dennis Richter   1.20%   
2,993
N
YJ J Draiman   0.91%   
2,279
N
Eric Preven   0.82%   
2,039
N
Frantz Pierre   0.81%   
2,023
N
Yuval Kremer   0.60%   
1,491
N
Paul E. Amori   0.55%   
1,386
1,396 of 1,396 precincts reporting (100.0%)

Turnout: 250,188
Registration: 2,030,173
Percent: 12.32003380992654%

This needs to change.

[LabourJersey]

 12.5% turnout is incredibly pathetic, especially since LA is a world city. How does the voters get this apathetic? Is the Mayor just very weak or has he done nothing and therefore hasn't been known for anything? Or Is the Angeleno culture just very apolitical?

Also, why hasn't the LA gov't moved elections to November (particularly November in Presidential elections years)? This seems so logical and would be such an obvious boost in interest