After nearly a year of campaigning since the beginning of the year, Southern California’s key Korean-American candidates will humbly await the people’s choice today after casting their ballots. Today’s polls will close at 8 p.m., however, many have already cast their ballots early via mail-in ballots.
According to Political Data (PDI), 7.76 million (34%) of the state’s 22.6 million eligible voters have cast ballots through November 3. In Los Angeles County, more than 600 polling locations held elections since November 2, with voter lines running all day on the afternoon of November 4.
While it’s yet difficult to gauge overall voter turnout, experts predicted a slightly lower turnout than four years ago in 2020.
According to Census Bureau data, overall U.S. presidential turnout in 2020 was 62.8%, the highest on record. California had a 68.8% turnout.
As of November 3, the state’s turnout was 34%. Two days before the 2020 election, voter turnout topped 10 million and reached 40%.
“I did my best during the campaign and I hope that the voters’ desire for change will be reflected and that a new wind will blow through the Korean-American community,” said David Kim, running for California’s 34th Congressional District. Kim will watch the vote count at Chicken Today in Koreatown.
Michelle Steel’s campaign for U.S. Representative in the 45th Congressional District, which has garnered attention as a hotly contested race, will also be watching the vote count with supporters at her campaign office in The Source OC in Buena Park.
Young Kim’s (40th Congressional District) campaign is hosting an election party at Rockwell Bakery in Villa Park starting at 8 p.m. Candidate Steven Choi, who is running for the California Senate in the 37th District, will watch the vote count at a joint Republican party in Newport Beach.
“It was a tough fight, but I’m glad I did my best and have no regrets,” Choi said, adding that he hopes to bring good news to the Korean-American community.
Grace Yoo, who campaigned against an appointed incumbent in LA’s 10th City Council District, will watch the vote counting from an acquaintance’s home in Wilton Place in Koreatown. “I’m grateful for the support and confident that I’m going to win,” Yoo said.
For the LA County District Attorney’s race, Nathan Hawkman is likely to lead against incumbent George Gascón, unless a surprise upset occurs. In LA’s 14th District, the race between incumbent Kevin De Leon and Ysabel Jurado is expected to be close after a last-minute profanity controversy.
At the same time, Measure G, which would expand LA County elected offices, is predicted to pass, and Propositions DD and LL, which would redistrict and expand LA’s city charter, are also forecast to pass with a majority. Proposition 33, which would strengthen rent control, will need to be watched closely, while Proposition 36, which would increase penalties for shoplifters and drug offenses, is projected to pass with a majority.
BY BRIAN CHOI, HOONSIK WOO [woo.hoonsik@koreadaily.com]
