This was an election we Republicans could have won !! Final election results: Assembly District 45 Her are the final Assembly District 45 Election Results. Democrat Matt Dababneh beat Republican Susan Shelley by 329 votes in Tuesday’s Assembly District 45 election, according to semiofficial results posted Friday by the California Secretary of State. There are no more ballots left to count, election officials said Friday, and results will be certified Monday. Immediately following Tuesday’s election, the race was too close to call: Dababneh held a slim 171-vote lead over Shelley, with more than 2,800 ballots left to count. The close margin shocked leaders of both parties, who expected Dababneh to easily carry the Democratic-majority district. Reached Friday, Dababneh, 32, said he was “humbled” by the narrow win. He also said he would reach out to local Republicans, and focus on issues raised by Shelley during the campaign, such as the protection of Proposition 13, the property-tax limiting measure. “I am definitely aware of the votes that didn’t go to me,” said Dababneh, a longtime deputy to U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman. “But I look forward to representing that group to the best of my ability.” Shelley, 54, did not immediately concede the race Friday and signaled a recount may be sought. “I’m consulting with party officials and attorneys now,” Shelley wrote in an email. “It’s my understanding that we have five days after the results are certified to ask for a recount.” The special election, called when Bob Blumenfield won a seat earlier this year on the Los Angeles City Council, drew statewide attention for its tight finish. Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-to-1 in the 45th District, giving Dababneh a clear advantage heading into the race. Blumenfield won the seat by 26 points last year when he ran against a Republican opponent. Dababneh raised about a half-million dollars and had endorsements from Gov. Jerry Brown and numerous Valley-based business and community leaders. Sacramento groups also spent more than $100,000 on his behalf. Shelley, a book author on the U.S. Constitution and Woodland Hills resident, raised about $60,000, she said. She had an all-volunteer staff, and didn’t employ a paid political consultant. On Friday, Dababneh said backlash from President Barack Obama’s rollout of the health care plan may have energized Republicans to vote. The recent government shutdown may also have encouraged GOP voters. “The national mood has been a little difficult for Democrats right now,” Dababneh said. Final voter turnout of the district’s roughly 250,000 registered voters was more than 11 percent, according to L.A. County officials. Former Republican strategist Allan Hoffenblum believes Shelley’s campaign — focused on blocking changes to Prop. 13, the law capping property tax hikes — struck a nerve with Republicans. Low voter turnout also played a part, he believes. “When you’re dealing with 11 percent voter turnout, anything can happen,” said Hoffenblum said. Dababneh’s win restores the Democratic party’s supermajority status in the state Assembly, allowing Democrats to put ballot measures before voters without Republican input. Dababneh has little time to rest on his laurels, however. Following Tuesday’s special election, a regular election for the Assembly District 45 seat is scheduled for June 2014. Both Dababneh and Shelley have already formed fundraising committees for next year’s race.
Posted on: Sat, 23 Nov 2013 21:36:56 +0000
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