Elan Carr, Ted Lieu Advance in Primary Race for Hollywood Elites’ House Seat Amid Low Voter Turnout

Republican Carr and Democrat Lieu beat several other candidates who had received backing from Hollywood power players

Elan Carr (L) and Ted Lieu

Republican Elan Carr claimed the top spot in Tuesday’s primary election for the Congressional seat vacated by retiring Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Beverly Hills), where countless Hollywood decision makers lay their heads.

Carr will face off against State Senator Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) in the November general election. The main contest happens to be between a Republican and a Democrat, but under California’s open primary system approved in 2010, the top two finishers in races for statewide office, state legislature, and Congress move on to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.

Also read: David Kanuth Eclipses Rivals in Hollywood Cash for Key Congressional Seat

Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel (D) came in a relatively close third, missing the runoff by just over two percentage points. Inspirational book author Marianne Williamson (I) came in fourth, nine tenths over Democratic radio host Matt Miller. David Kanuth finished ninth.

Greuel, Williamson, Miller and Kanuth lost despite receiving maximum contributions from Hollywood power players inluding Jeff Katzenberg, Sherry Lansing and J.J. Abrams.

Also read: Matt Miller Leads Wendy Greuel in Hollywood $$ for California Congress Seat (Exclusive)

There were 14 Democratic and left-leaning candidates in Tuesday’s hotly contested race, a smorgasbord of options that appeared to have cannibalized the vote.

In the neighboring district, which includes the Fox and Sony lots, incumbent Karen Bass (D-Century City) sailed through to the general with 79.7 percent of the vote, where she will take on GOP challenger Adam King, who finished with 14.2 percent.

Also read: California’s TV, Film Tax Credit Bill Passes Full Assembly

Low voter turnout, traditionally a problem for primary elections and especially during midterms, was also a factor in the CA 33rd race, which is one of the wealthiest districts in the nation. Just over 83,000 ballots were cast in a district that has more than 464,000 registered voters.

A Los Angeles Times analysis points out that residents are largely content with the state and local government right now, positions that accounted for the vast majority of spots on Tuesday’s ballot. Even though Hollywood is constantly fretting about film tax credits and incentives to keep their business in Los Angeles county — and the state of California as a whole — little else about the improving state of California finances and the presumptive reelection of Gov. Jerry Brown drew the electorate out to vote.

Comments