Moorlach, Rohrabacher build commanding primary leads; Harper up by smaller margin in early returns
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Incumbents for the Newport-Mesa area’s two state Legislature seats and its federal congressional district were leading in early primary election results Tuesday night.
Though Sen. John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa) of the 37th District and U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) of the 48th Congressional District held commanding leads against their closest challengers, Assemblyman Matt Harper’s race to keep his seat was proving to be a tighter race, according to county registrar results as of 9:30 p.m.
Harper, a Republican from Huntington Beach, where he served as mayor, had 19,713 votes, or 43.7%. His closest challenger, Democrat Karina Onofre, had captured 17,139 votes, or 38%. Coming in third was Katherine Daigle with 8,247 votes, or 18.3%.
Onofre, an Irvine resident who unsuccessfully ran for Santa Ana City Council in 2012, last challenged Harper in 2014. She came in fourth in the field of five candidates, capturing about 15% of the vote and failing to make the runoff election that November.
Harper said he was pleased with the early returns, particularly as an incumbent ahead of Daigle, a fellow Republican.
He noted that his district, which includes the UC Irvine campus, was likely to have a strong Democratic Party turnout.
Still, Harper added, “to be ahead of both candidates, I feel very strongly about the vote of confidence from the district, especially going into the November election.”
In a statement posted on Facebook, Onofre thanked God and the voters.
“Those who know me know that I have a big heart and I love to give, inspire and help others in any way I can,” she said. “Know that once I am elected as your assemblywoman in November, I will have an open-door policy and I will do my best to serve you.”
Moorlach held a commanding lead of nearly 49,236 votes, or 59.9%, against challenger Ari Grayson, a Democrat, educator and environmental scientist who had 32,916 votes, or 40.1%.
“It is an extreme honor to serve the residents of the 37th Senate District in the state’s Legislature, and I am most grateful for their support and encouragement,” Moorlach said in response to the early returns.
Moorlach, a former Orange County supervisor and treasurer-tax collector, first won his seat in a special election March 2015.
Rohrabacher appeared poised to win his 14th term.
He captured 60.7% of the vote, or 41,241 — far ahead of his closest challenger, Democrat Sue Savary of Newport Beach, who had 18,114 votes, or 26.7%. Coming in third was congressional aide Robert John Banuelos, a Democrat, with 8,614 votes, or 12.7%.
Under California election law, the top two vote-getters in each race will face off again in the Nov. 8 general election.
Twitter: @BradleyZint
