Assemblywoman Luz Rivas finished first in the race to succeed retiring Rep. Tony Cárdenas in the 29th Congressional District, according to figures released Wednesday by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
Rivas received 48% of the vote and will be a heavy general election favorite in the predominately Democratic district against Republican Benito “Benny” Bernal, a family and youth advocate, who received 31.2%.
Community organizer Angélica MarÃa Dueñas was last in the field of three with 20.8% of the vote. The Democrat lost to Cárdenas, 56.6%-43.4% in 2020 and 58.5%-41.5% in 2022.
Cárdenas, D-Pacoima, endorsed Rivas, D-North Hollywood, when he announced his retirement Nov. 20.
“Luz is a genuine public servant who has dedicated herself to delivering opportunities for the Valley,” Cárdenas said. “She gets things done, and has always put working families first.”
When she announced her candidacy, Rivas said in a statement, “Congress has descended into a constant state of dysfunction, and the American people are paying the price. … Residents of the San Fernando Valley deserve a member of Congress who will focus on their needs. I will fight to make sure every family has economic opportunity, protect Social Security and Medicare, and reduce the threat of climate change.”
Rivas, 50, is vying to be the first Latina to represent the district. She was elected to the Assembly in a 2018 special election following the resignation of Raul Bocanegra, who was the subject of sexual harassment allegations.
Rivas grew up in Pacoima, graduated with honors from San Fernando High School, received a degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, worked as an electrical engineer for Motorola, then received a masters degree in education from Harvard.
In 2012, Rivas founded DIY Girls, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping girls in the San Fernando Valley become interested in science and engineering.