Democratic Long Beach City Councilwoman Bonnie Lowenthal has been elected to the 54th State Assembly seat by defeating Republican candidate Gabriella Holt. Lowenthal held her seat in the City Council’s First District for seven years before deciding to run for Assembly, and previously served on the LBUSD Board of Education for seven years. The 54th Assembly seat was left vacant by the departure of Democrat Betty Karnette due to term limits.
Lowenthal had captured 57.1% of the vote to Holt’s 37.1%.
Bonnie Lowenthal with Harbor Commissioner Mike Walter and City Councilmember Rae Gabelich. Photo by Russell Conroy
Lowenthal was endorsed by Mayor Bob Foster and former Mayor Beverly O’Neill, among others, and ran on a platform of education reform. Holt is a former teacher and nurse who scored big endorsements of her own from Congressman Dana Rohrabacher and former Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan. Holt stressed education reform as well, but four of five board members on the Palos Verdes Unified School District endorsed Lowenthal, despite Holt’s service on the board for the past eight years.
The 54th Assembly District includes most of Long Beach, Signal Hill, San Pedro, Catalina Island and the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
Lowenthal’s staff presents her with congratulatory flowers. Photo by Russell Conroy
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor