The vote counts and percentages were released by the Orange County Registrar of Voters.
UPDATE: Please see the comments for a correction, noting that the tally reported here does not include votes from the larger portion of Congressional District 47, in Los Angeles County.
UPDATE 2: Mr. Shimpock has written to demand that Orange County Breeze take down this article as misleading in its premise. As a policy, we do not take down articles but correct them. I have now corrected my initial error several times over. Mr. Shimpock continues to be dissatisfied.
A funny thing happened in the ongoing vote tally for the 47th Congressional District.
Yesterday, Alan Lowenthal was the biggest vote-getter, followed by Gary DeLong. Steve Kuykendall came in third.
That tentative result had Lowenthal campaign consultant Mike Shimpock crowing in a premature email:
Alan Lowenthal rolled to victory in the newly drawn 47th Congressional district.
In a record low turnout of 17%, which favored Republicans across the state, Lowenthal still managed to lead the field by a decisive five point margin with 34% of the vote in a field of eight candidates. Nearly 60% of the vote came from Los Angeles County, where Lowenthal dominated with 42% of the vote.
“If the Republicans can’t even put up good numbers in a low turnout scenario like this, there is no stopping Alan Lowenthal in November,” said Mike Shimpock, Lowenthal’s campaign consultant. “With an elevated turnout in November, a solid registration and Democratic performance advantage, and Alan’s ability to attract crossover votes, he is the clear frontrunner going into the general election.”
The newly-drawn 47th has an eleven point Democratic registration advantage, and gave President Obama an eighteen point margin in 2008. It stretches from Long Beach into Orange County in Southern California.
That last gratuitous sentence surely rankles Orange County conservatives unwillingly lumped into a district drawn to make it easy for a Democrat to win walking away.
As of the 5 p.m. tally tonight, Republican Gary DeLong had leapfrogged Democrat Alan Lowenthal:
- Gary DeLong – 9,246 (31.3%)
- Alan Lowenthal – 7,041 (23.8%)
- Steven T. Kuykendall – 3,580 (12.1%)
There appears to be no danger of Lowenthal slipping to third, but Shimpock might wait a bit longer to crow in November.
Featured photo
Courtesy photo of Gary DeLong.
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About the Author
The numbers from the Lowenthal campaign press release were from the 47th District overall. The numbers released from the OC registrar are from OC County only, you nimrod.
Way to hump the leg of your “moderate”-ly experienced candidate.
You’re right. I forgot about the jump across the County line when viewing the tallies. That jump goes against one of the rules of the supposed non-partisan redistricting. The tally that I used in my first article also came from the Orange County Registrar of Voters, and put Alan Lowenthal on top. But I will correct myself: the California Secretary of State gives the District-wide percentage for Lowenthal as 33.7% and for DeLong as 29.3%.
I don’t mind being corrected when I am wrong. I do mind the crude unimaginative language and erroneous reading of my mind.
Let’s prolong the fun. If all the Democratic votes are added together, the percentage comes to 49.2%. If all the Republican votes are added, the percentage is 50.8%.
Much, much closer than an eleven-point Democratic advantage should allow. And much, much less for Mr. Shimpock to crow over.
Shelly, the turnout was 17%. In the primary, there was no Democratic advantage in turnout. In fact, in this particular primary there was an even percentage of Democrats and Republicans. This spells very bad news for Mr. Delong. Further, the Lowenthal numbers will increase when LA County updates its numbers.
John,
This spells bad news for Mr. DeLong if voters who voted for other Republican candidates refuse to vote for him in November. Given a choice of being snubbed by their Congressional representative for the next ten years, or being ignored until they make a really big stink, I am guessing that many voters may choose a possibility of a hearing over no chance at all.
Oh, and Shelly, the first rule that must be followed in redistricting is equal population. You know, the one person on vote thingy. If you took the time to read the actual text of the redistricting proposition stated that when POSSIBLE, geographical boundaries SHOULD be followed.
John,
I have read the redistricting proposition many times. I understand about equal population. I understand the one concept of one person, one vote. I understand the difference between “possible” and “should.” The gouges made into Orange County at the last minute — after public outcry might have changed things — resulted in small to medium-sized cities being drowned in a sea of different-minded and larger Los Angeles County cities. In northwestern Orange County prior to this round of redistricting, our small communities jostled among ourselves as equals. With redistricting, we are already lost in Long Beach’s shadow.
Example? During the primary campaign, I met every single one of the Republican candidates for this Congressional District, but not Mr. Lowenthal. He acted as though he doesn’t feel the need to pay any attention to the eastern end of the District. With an eleven-point Democratic registration advantage, that may be true.
Shelley,
At the end of the night who was in first place according to the Secretary of State? Spin it anyway you want, but Delong came in second in the district. After bragging about how he would kick Lowenthal’s butt. And after inviting folks to his “victory” party. A kicking did not appear. And a victory did not appear. The Yacht Club must have been depressing with all those Newport Beach donors crying in their martinis. This leaves lying as the only option–the typical option of desperation–open to Delong. As for the percentage split between Dems and Reps, here’s a reality check. This round was a low voter turnout primary, one that by every metric favored the Reps on the ticket–and Delong still face planted. And do you really think all those Kahn and Foley folks are going to vote for a RINO like Delong come November? They certainly won’t vote for Lowenthal, but quite a few are not going to vote for a so-called “moderate” Republican. In addition, Lowenthal has reportedly already wrapped up the endorsements of all the other Dems. So spin away, Reps. You only have five more months to think Delong is relevant.
Mr. Taber,
I am aware of the low turn out. I am aware that the June primary made the top of the ticket vote irrelevant except for bragging rights, and that went some ways towards depressing the number of voters. I am unwilling to wager on what Mr. Kahn’s and Mr. Foley’s voters will do in November, but agree with you that they are unlikely to vote for Mr. Lowenthal. Mr. DeLong did not beat Mr. Lowenthal, but neither did he “face-plant” given how divided the non-Lowenthal vote was.
That Mr. Lowenthal may have the endorsement of the other Dems is expected.
My comment regarding the percentages was to color Mr. Shimpock’s gleeful victory dance in more muted tones, not to deny the victory.
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