By Los Angeles County Politics
Voters across Los Angeles County’s 88 municipalities delivered several notable results Tuesday in the June 2 primary, headlined by a nationally historic data center ban in the San Gabriel Valley, a wounded incumbent Compton mayor forced into a November runoff, and a Compton school board leader posting a commanding lead in her State Assembly race.
Monterey Park: A National First
In what is being described as the first voter-approved municipal data center ban in the United States, Monterey Park’s Measure NDC passed by a landslide, with 86.27% of voters — more than 6,300 ballots — approving a permanent citywide prohibition on data centers.
The ban, which can only be overturned by another citywide vote, grew out of organized resident opposition to a proposed 250,000-square-foot data center project by Australian asset management firm HMC Capital, which withdrew its application in April after the city imposed a moratorium on new data center development.
Residents raised alarms over diesel backup generators, noise from cooling systems running around the clock, and the potential for a single facility to consume more electricity than all of the city’s roughly 20,000 households combined. The measure faced no formal opposition.
Supporters of the ban, including San Gabriel Valley Progressive Action and No Data Center Monterey Park, hope the vote will inspire similar efforts elsewhere.
Neighboring Alhambra has already enacted a data center ban through a council zoning update, while Montebello, El Monte, and Baldwin Park have all passed temporary moratoriums.
Compton Mayor Sharif Survives — But Heads to November
Incumbent Compton Mayor Emma Sharif leads her primary field but falls well short of the majority needed under Compton’s city charter to avoid a November runoff.
Sharif received nearly 42% of the vote, followed by Councilman Andre Spicer at 17% and Omar Bradley Jr. at 16%, with three additional challengers splitting the remaining ballots. George Whitesides
Under Compton’s charter, a candidate must receive a majority of all votes cast in the primary to win outright. Sharif’s inability to clear that threshold against a fragmented six-way field — despite her incumbency advantage — signals real vulnerability heading into fall.
The second runoff slot between Spicer and Bradley Jr. remains tight with ballots still being counted.
Sharif headed into Election Day facing what local outlets described as unresolved issues and behind-the-podium scandals.
Reached after the election, she said her priorities through November would be infrastructure improvements, addressing deficiencies flagged in recent audits, and government transparency.
Dr. Ayanna Davis Leads AD-65
Dr. Ayanna Davis, Compton Unified School District Board Vice President, leads the open AD-65 State Assembly primary with 44.8% — a commanding performance in a six-way race.
Luis Gutiérrez is a distant second at 23%, with Faisal Iqbal-Zubair third at 14.8%. Davis advances to November as the clear frontrunner.
The seat covers Watts, Willowbrook, Compton, Carson, North Long Beach, Harbor Gateway, Harbor City, Wilmington, and San Pedro, and opened when term-limited Assemblymember Mike Gipson entered his final year of service in the state Legislature.
Gipson endorsed Davis as his preferred successor, highlighting her deep community roots and record of service. He is now leading the primary for the California State Board of Equalization District 3 with 26% in a crowded field.
Los Angeles City Measures
City of Los Angeles voters approved two of three ballot measures Tuesday. Measure CB, which restructures the city’s cannabis business tax, passed overwhelmingly with 70.09% in favor. Measure TC, adjusting hotel tax fees, passed more narrowly at 54.38%. Measure TT, which would have raised hotel tax rates outright, failed 55.62% to 44.38%.
Pasadena City Council
In Pasadena, three city council races produced decisive results. Justin Jones won the 3rd District outright with 76.33%. Jill Rivas ran unopposed in the 5th District. John Lyon won the 7th District with 82.93%. None of the three races requires a November runoff.
Paramount City Council
In Paramount, where city council members are elected by plurality with no runoff, incumbents Peggy Lemons and Annette Delgadillo won the two open council seats Tuesday, finishing first and second in a four-way race with 33.66% and 26.43%, respectively.
The Count Continues
Across all 88 municipalities, results from Tuesday remain preliminary. The LA County Registrar will process mail and provisional ballots daily through June 26, with final certification by July 10. Several city council races across the county remain too close to call.
