16th Senate District field set with 5 candidates

[Le Taz Hot]

A week of political drama narrowed the candidate field to two front-runners in the race for the state's 16th Senate District: Bakersfield Democrat Leticia Perez and Hanford Republican Andy Vidak.

But they're not the only ones who will be competing in the May 21 special election.

Democrats Francisco Ramirez Jr. of Riverdale and Paulina Miranda of Fresno, and Peace and Freedom Party candidate Mohammad Arif of Bakersfield, also qualified for the ballot by Friday's filing deadline, according to election offices in Fresno and Kern counties.

The election is the result of former Sen. Michael Rubio's resignation last month. The Bakersfield Democrat took a job with Chevron.

<More>

http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/03/29/3236427/states-16th-senate-district-field.html#storylink=misearch



I only know one of these candidates: Paulina Miranda. The local Democrats are NOT supporting her for good reason. I won't elaborate.

[KamaAina]

1. Is this race subject to the new top-two system?

Or is it a free-for-all where a plurality can win? If so, with three Dems and a P&F candidate in, the repukes flip it, and we can kiss our supermajority goodbye. :sc ared:

[CreekDog]

2. it's a free for all but with a 50% threshold to win this round

if nobody gets 50%, there is a top-two runoff later.