Culver City Observer -

By Stephen Hadland

Observer Publisher

Assemblymember Holly Mitchell was elected to the California State Senate on Tuesday to represent the 26th State Senate District, which includes Culver City, in Sacramento.

The special election was held to fill the unexpired term of former Senator Curren Price when Price was elected to the Los Angeles City Council.

Most voters were either unaware of the election or simply didn’t care as less than 5% of the 433,000 registered voters in the district turned out to vote.

In a lopsided vote Democrat Mitchell garnered 17,121 votes or 80.65% to fellow Democrat Mervin Evans’ 4,109 votes or 19.35%.

No Republicans or Independents filed to run for the position in the district which is one of the most heavily Democratic Districts in the state.

Mitchell will have to run for election to a full term in 2014.

Under state law Governor Jerry Brown must now call a special election to fill Mitchell’s assembly seat. The election will be held sometime prior to the end of the year.

Currently former Culver City Mayor Christopher Armenta and Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, both Democrats, are the two announced candidates. Joey Hill, who served as chief of staff to former Senator Kevin Murray had expressed interest in the seat but has since decided against running. The winner of the assembly seat will also have to run again in 2014 for a full term.