SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - By a margin of more than 30,000 votes, Inland Empire voters have elected Mike Morrell, a Republican assemblyman, to represent them in California's State Senate District 23.
As of late March 25, Morrell, a real estate professional from Rancho Cucamonga, led the filed with 62.6 percent of the vote, according to the office of California Secretary of State Debra Bowen.
The next closest competitor, Ronald O'Donnell, landed 10,060 votes for 15.3 percent of the total vote.
The remaining candidates, Democrat Ameenah Fuller, Republican Crystal Rulz and Libertarian Jeff Hewitt all came in under 10 percent of the total vote.
In the last three months leading up to the Tuesday election, Morrell spent more than $231,000, in campaign contributions, far more than any other candidate, campaign finance records show.
Morrell, who received the bulk of his donations from California businesses and pro-business PACs, raised more than $150,000 since Jan. 1.
As previously reported, on Dec. 5, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a proclamation calling for a primary special election in State Senate District 23, seeking to fill the vacancy left by former Sen. Bill Emmerson, 68, on Dec. 1 following his resignation.
Emmerson, a Republican, had given an abrupt notice of his resignation on Nov. 8, citing no other reason for his resignation other than a lack of passion.
The state's senate district is one of 40.
From Legal Newsline: Reach David Yates at elections@legalnewsline.com
Morrell captures Calif. state Senate seat
