FILE – This undated file photo shared by Mia Bonta for the congregation shows Mia Bonta, a candidate for the 18th Congregation District in California. Bonta is running to replace her husband Rob Bonta, who was appointed attorney general by Governor Gavin Newsom in April 2021, runoff with Janani Ramachandran, who finished second with 25%. Under the California electoral system, the two frontrunners go to the general election regardless of party affiliation.
FILE – This undated file photo, courtesy of the Janani Ramachandran For State Assembly, shows Janani Ramachandran running for the 18th Assembly District in California. Ramachandran is running to replace former MP Rob Bonta, who was appointed Attorney General by Governor Gavin Newsom in April 2021, runoff with Ramachandran finishing second with 25%. Under the California electoral system, the two frontrunners go to the general election regardless of party affiliation.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s wife spearheaded early return Tuesday night as she sought his old San Francisco Bay Area seat in a special election against a Democrat.
After the polls closed, Mia Bonta had just over 55% of the vote, compared to about 45% for her opponent Janani Ramachandran with about 46,000 votes counted.
Mia Bonta is supported by a powerful coalition of politicians, businessmen and union leaders whom Ramachandran says has special interests.
Bonta had 38% of the vote in the June primary, well below the majority she needed to win outright and avoid a runoff with Ramachandran, who finished second with 25%. Under the California electoral system, the two frontrunners go to the general election regardless of party affiliation.
Two-thirds of the voters in the 18th Congregation District are registered Democrats. Rob Bonta has won each of his last four elections by 87% support. He left the legislature in April after Governor Gavin Newsom appointed him to the highest post in the state’s law enforcement agency.
Mia Bonta is president of the Alameda School Board and executive director of Oakland Promise, a college and career preparation program in the city’s public schools. She raised nearly three times as much as her opponent and benefited from four independent spending committees that spent nearly $ 1 million on her.