Allen beats Fluke in CA D26 State Senate race
Ben Allen, state Senator Fran Pavley, and Congressman Henry Waxman enjoyed a festive election night party at Warszawa Restaurant in Santa Monica. Photo by Alyssa Morin.
Ben Allen beat out Sandra Fluke in the state Senate race for California’s 26th District Tuesday night, according to returns from the Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters.
With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Allen finished with 60.78 percent of votes to Fluke’s 39.22 percent.
At an election night party at Warszawa Polish Restaurant in Santa Monica, Allen took to the microphone to thank his supporters and endorsers.
“So far so good,” Allen said as early results trickled in. “We are not going to get too excited yet, but certainly the numbers look good so far.”
Allen also introduced both retiring Congressman Henry Waxman and State Senator from the 27th district Fran Pavley.
“I have been on a ballot in every election since 1968,” Waxman said. “This feels great. I can’t lose.”
“But I’m looking for the new leadership to carry on the fight for all the things we believe in,” he said. “I was so proud to endorse Ben early on for the senate seat. If the absentee votes are any indication, he’s going to win two to one.”
“I am so looking forward to working with Ben,” Pavley said. “I know this district will be in great hands with him.”
Hany Fangary, councilman from Hermosa Beach, and Amy Howorth, former mayor of Manhattan Beach, were also in attendance at Allen’s party.
Fluke hosted a small party for friends and supporters at Santonio’s in Venice Beach but did not invite press to the gathering.
Fluke and Allen, both Democrats, raised and spent massive amounts of money in attempts to take over Ted Lieu’s seat. Senator Lieu chose to run for Waxman’s Congressional seat and did not seek reelection in the 26th. Fluke and Ben Allen were the top two vote-getters of the June “jungle” primary.
Allen, 36, is an attorney and lecturer at UCLA Law School and member of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District board. As of October 18, he had raised $1,097,362. Fluke, 33, an attorney and women’s rights activist, raised $1,226,101
But that wasn’t the race’s complete financial picture. Bill Bloomfield, a Manhattan Beach businessman who ran as an independent against Henry Waxman two years ago, spent $1.3 million in an independent expenditure campaign in support of Allen. The funds have gone largely to direct mailers outlining the candidate’s virtues and the Allen campaign has said they have no contact or control over the contributions.