District 39 is one of twenty-four races with two candidates of the same party running in the November election. Both are Democrats. L.A. City Councilmember Richard Alarcon and his former aide, Raul Bocanegra, will be battling for the seat in November.

Before this year, state races were bi-partisan: the winning Republican and the winning Democrat would move on to the general election.

But a new state law now allows the top-two candidates to move on, despite party affiliation.

Although, Alarcon has had quite a successful political career, winning his last five elections in two decades; his rival, Bocanegra, came in first place in the June primaries: 36 percent to 27 percent.

Alarcon’s loss in the polls is most likely due to felony voter fraud allegations set against him and his wife two years ago. The allegations were dropped in May of this year.

Bocanegra has also out-fundraised Alarcon. The latest campaign finance report shows Alarcon has raised $216,089.08 since Jan. 1, and has $64,650.79 cash-on-hand. Bocanegra has raised $290,416.80 since Jan.1, and has $97,625.99 cash-on-hand for the same period.

 

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Reach Staff Reporter Angela Blakely here.