Unofficial returns from the Los Angeles City Clerk Election Division shows that David Ryu has advanced to the general election for the LA City Council District 4 seat.
He placed a close second with 14.6 percent of the vote. He’ll face Carolyn Ramsay who finished first with 15.3 percent. Just 135 votes separated the two in an election with low voter turnout.
According to the LA Daily News, Ryu was bolstered by a strong fundraising effort. He raised more than $400,000 in the race compared to Ramsay’s $302,000.
Ryu is a community health director. If victorious, he would become the second Asian American to be elected to the LA City Council and the first in over 20 years.
Two other Asian American candidates didn’t do as well.
Incumbent Herb Wesson easily defeated community activist Grace Yoo to reclaim the District 10 seat. He won 63 percent to 30 percent. Because Wesson received more than 50 percent of the vote, there will be no runoff. Many Korean Americans blame Wesson for dividing Koreatown in two during redistricting, thus diluting the Korean American vote.
Nadine Diaz managed to get only 4 percent of the vote in the District 14 race. She is of Mexican and Japanese descent. Both Yoo and Ryu are Korean American.
The general election is May 19.