By REZA GOSTAR Staff Writer Tuesday’s election results for the 50th State Assembly District seat, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, point toward a runoff between two Democrats: Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom and Betsy Butler, who currently represents the 53rd Assembly District in the South Bay. As a result of California’s Top Two Primaries Act approved by voters in June 2010, the top two vote getters will face off against each other in the November 6 general election. Called one of the most heated legislative elections in California, many political experts believed that the race for the newly created 50th Assembly seat was going to end up between Butler and Democrat Torie Osborn, an active political figure who was endorsed by numerous organizations, individuals and political figures. Osborn and Butler supporters waged a heated campaign against each other in the months leading up to Tuesday’s election, accusing each other of everything from hypocrisy to using muckraking campaign tactics. When asked if Butler’s and Osborn’s negative focus on each other may have contributed to his strong second-place finish, Bloom told the Palisadian-Post: ‘The thing that resonated most throughout the district was my focus on fiscal responsibility in Sacramento. I don’t think there is any doubt that voters are oriented in seeing a change in the dynamic in Sacramento. I doubt that a recount would change the dynamic of the votes.’ Bloom added, ‘It was pretty exciting last night. I am just elated that I am in the top two.’ Butler, who seemed to have the advantage in terms of campaign financing, spent around $625,000 and Osborn spent about $471,000, according to the Secretary of State’s office.’Bloom spent a modest $181,000 on his campaign. Torgan, an attorney in West Hollywood, did not spend enough to require reporting to election officials. Early Wednesday morning, Bloom, who stayed in the shadows through much of the primary election campaign, was trailing Butler by just 102 votes with 100% of the precincts reporting. He was 673 votes ahead of Osborn and 687 votes ahead of Torgan. In percentage terms, Butler had 25.9%, Bloom 25.6%, Osborn 24.3% and Torgan 24.2%. Osborn told the Post she was very’disappointed in the results, but was not ready to discuss the election with the media. In the primary race for the 33rd Congressional District seat, 19-term Representative Henry Waxman captured his usual clear victory. Currently holding the 30th Congressional District seat, Waxman faced little competition in his new district, and will face Bill Bloomfield, an independent candidate, in November. They received 45.5% and 24.6% of the vote, respectively. Democrat Fran Pavley, who currently represents the 23rd State Senate District, will compete in the newly drawn District 27 against Republican Todd Zink, a former U.S. Marine. Zink received 50.6% of the vote to Pavley’s 49.4%. Her new district no longer includes Pacific Palisades.
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