Former California Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian has taken a wide lead over his opponent Jillian Burgos in the early results of the race for Los Angeles City Council District 2.

Late Tuesday night, Nazarian had about 58% of the vote to Burgos’ 42%. They were the ones who obtained the most votes in a crowded primary election for an open seat in this San Fernando Valley district that covers Toluca Lake, North Hollywood and Van Nuys.

Frontrunner places the race in the national context

As his first solid results began to come in, Nazarian quickly moved on to discuss how he planned to use this position to resist a potential second Trump presidency.

“You better believe that Los Angeles will be the leader in making sure Trump doesn’t continue doing what he did four years ago,” Nazarian told supporters at an election night watch party in Sun Valley.

A progressive underdog

Burgos, an optician who has served on the North Hollywood Neighborhood Council, waged a progressive campaign in which she said she would increase outreach to unhoused residents and oppose large pay increases for the Los Angeles Police Department.

Los Angeles City Council District 2 candidate Jillian Burgos, center, speaks during an election party at Lawless Brewing Company in North Hollywood on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Unlike Burgos, Nazarian expressed his support for a city policy ban homeless encampments near schools and parks. He also raised significantly more money than her and earned the endorsement of Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass.

At her campaign event on election night, Burgos acknowledged that she was not the favorite. If he won, he said, it would only be the second tenant to join the 15-member municipal council.

“I have lived experience,” said Burgos. “I know what it’s like to have to work multiple jobs and live with multiple people just to survive. And we know we have to have diversity on our board.”

Voters want more done on homelessness

For many voters in this district, homelessness was a major issue. As soon as she finished voting, Dani Torres said that she chose Burgos because she liked that she is more of a newcomer to politics. He hoped she would push for greater accountability on spending on homelessness.

“All I see is more homeless people,” Torres said. “I still see friends of mine who are one paycheck away from being homeless. “I’m almost a vagabond too.”

Dani Torres cast her vote at the North Hollywood Recreation Center.

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At one polling place at the North Hollywood Recreation Center, so many voters turned out that poll workers ran out of “I Voted” stickers. That was a disappointment to Daniella Sherman, who wanted a sticker after casting her first vote in a presidential race since becoming a citizen.

Sherman said he chose Nazarian in the council race, hoping he would do more to eliminate the encampments.

“I feel bad for people who are homeless,” Sherman said. “But it’s not my fault that they attack me at night or that I have to live with this. “I’m paying a lot of rent.”

Why was this seat up for grabs?

This council district seat has been held for more than 14 years by Paul Krekorian, who was unable to run again because he had been removed.

Before holding elected office, Nazarian served as Krekorian’s chief of staff. Both are prominent Armenian American politicians in a district that has the largest number of Armenian voters in the city.

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