Assemblywoman Laura Friedman leads the race to succeed Rep. Adam Schiff in the predominantly Democratic 30th Congressional District, according to figures released Wednesday by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
Friedman, D-Glendale, has 27.2% of the vote in the field of 12 Democrats, two Republicans, and one candidate with no party preference. Republican Alex Balekian, an intensive care physician, is second with 20.9%. Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-La Cañada Flintridge, is third with 14%.
Former Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer, is fourth with 12.9%, while fellow Democrat Ben Savage, who starred in the 1993-2000 ABC comedy “Boy Meets World,” is seventh with 4.2%.
Schiff, D-Burbank, who finished first in the primary for the Senate seat previously held by the late Dianne Feinstein, did not make an endorsement.
The top two candidates, regardless of party, will advance to the general election.
The district stretches from West Hollywood to Pasadena and Echo Park to the Angeles National Forest.
Updated vote counts are scheduled daily through the week.
Friedman touted what she called her “extraordinary record of progressive leadership as a state Assemblymember; Glendale city councilmember and mayor, community activist; and in the private sector,” during her campaign, including citing banning gun shows from being on Glendale city property and across the street from schools, authoring legislation to add affordable housing, ending the fur trade in California and co-authoring single-payer health care legislation.