State Assembly race: Crowded field for Democrats in the 53rd District
by Andrea Ruse The race for the 53rd District State Assembly seat is arguably the most competitive in the state, packed with eight candidates in the Democratic primary, more than $2.2 million poured into campaigning and a roughly half million dollar corporate-backed campaign against front-runner Betsy Butler. Since 1992, the Assembly seat for the 53rd District — which includes Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo beaches, Playa del Rey, Marina del Rey, El Segundo, Torrance, Lomita and the Venice Beach portion of Los Angeles — has gone to a Democrat. In November, Republican candidate Nathan Minz, who is unopposed in the primary, and third-party candidates will face the winner of the Tuesday, June 8 Democratic primary to succeed termed-out Democratic Assemblyman Ted Lieu. All but one candidate in the Democratic pool are running for the first time for the seat. Pete Thottam of Venice unsuccessfully ran against Lieu in 2006. “It’s not unusual to have eight candidates running,” said James Lau, Democratic candidate from Venice. “What’s unusual about this race is to have four or five viable candidates. There are usually three at the very most. This one’s crazy.” Two candidates are from the…
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