San Francisco Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting took the first step toward securing a seat in the state Legislature on Tuesday by garnering the most votes in the “top two” primary race for the 19th Assembly District seat.
The newly drawn district, which covers the western side of San Francisco, along with Daly City, Broadmoor and Colma in San Mateo County, was formerly represented by Fiona Ma, who is being termed out of office this year.
Ting, who has been endorsed by Ma, finished with about 56 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s election, according to unofficial election results. Entrepreneur Michael Breyer finished in second place with about 22 percent of the vote and will join Ting on the ballot in November’s general election.
California’s new primary election rules call for the top two candidates in state and congressional races to appear on the November ballot, regardless of party affiliation.
Ting and Breyer are both Democrats.
The top two vote-getters participate in the general election regardless of whether one finishes with more than 50 percent of the vote, as Ting did Tuesday.
The new primary system was approved by California voters in June 2010.
Ting ran for mayor in San Francisco last year but finished in 12th place.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
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