Assembly District 15 unofficial election results as of Tuesday, March 12, 2024. Source: CA Secretary of State.
Wilson, Mitchoff concede, thank supporters after finishing third, fourth place
“there is no way I’m endorsing Anamarie because I don’t trust her.” – Karen Mitchoff
“Unity doesn’t mean endorsement.” – Anamarie Avila Farias
All 3 trail Republican Sonia Ledo
Avila Farias announces endorsement of Assembly Speaker Rivas
By Allen D. Payton
After placing third and fourth, respectively, in last Tuesday’s election for the 15th Assembly District race, Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Monica Wilson and former Contra Costa County Supervisor Karen Mitchoff offered concession messages and thanks to their supporters. But only Wilson offered support for second place finisher and fellow Democrat Contra Costa School Board Trustee Anamaria Avila Farias. Yet, she claimed the three “will move forward with unity.”
The only Republican in the race, Realtor Sonia Ledo is in first place and will face Avila Farias in the general election in November.
While Wilson posted a message on her campaign Facebook page Monday, when asked if she had posted something on social media Mitchoff said, “I sent a letter out to my supporters. But I didn’t post anything.” As of Tuesday afternoon, her campaign Facebook page had been taken down.
Mitchoff Thanks Supporters But Offers No Support for Avila Farias
In her emailed letter sent last Friday, the former supervisor did not offer support for Avila Farias. She wrote, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. While this isn’t the letter I had hoped to send out after the election, I truly appreciate all that you did to support me in my campaign for Assembly.
I don’t regret the decision to enter the race. I believe I brought to voters’ attention the need for independent thinking in Sacramento. With a Republican in the lead in a Democratic-dominated district, I may have succeeded a bit too much!
In all seriousness, I am at peace with the results. The most important message I want to impart to you is how much I appreciate your support, encouragement, and friendship during these last eight months. Anyone who has run for elected office knows these are important ingredients for any campaign, and I am blessed with an abundance of all three. I am indeed a very fortunate woman.
Thank you so much,
Karen Mitchoff”
Monica Wilson’s post on her campaign Facebook on Monday, March 11, 2024.
Wilson Offers Support to Avila Farias
In a post on her campaign’s Facebook page on Monday, March 11, Wilson wrote, “Dear Neighbors:
I want to thank the voters of Assembly District 15 and each and every supporter for your encouragement, donations, and other support. Your help and generosity means more to me than words can ever express.
Last week’s voter turnout didn’t turn out as we had hoped, but it only shows that the work we must all do together to present a compelling vision for change, is needed more than ever. I’ll continue the fight to empower communities and ensure real community engagement in decision-making, including our collective goals of stronger voter participation at every level.
There is so much more work to do, and we need to do it together. Today, I am proud of the campaign we ran and look forward to supporting Ana Marie in her race. Please join me in reflecting on the work ahead, and sharing the hope in our hearts as we prepare for our critical national, state and regional races this fall.
Again, thank you!
Monica”
Avila Farias’ post on her campaign Facebook page on Tuesday March 12, 2024.
Avila Farias Falsely Claims Unity Among the 3 Democrat Candidates, Announces Endorsement of Assembly Speaker
Then Tuesday afternoon, Contra Costa County School Board Trustee Anamarie Avila Farias who placed second in the race behind Republican Realtor Sonia Ledo posted the following on her campaign Facebook page:
“Exciting News!
I am thrilled to share that, thanks to your unwavering support, I will be advancing to the General Election! My opponents, Karen Mitchoff and Monica Wilson, have gracefully acknowledged the outcome, and together we will move forward with unity to create positive change in Contra Costa County.
This achievement is a testament to the collective effort and support of individuals like you who believe in restoring the California Dream for those in our district and throughout the state. Additionally, I’m honored to have received the endorsement of Speaker of the California Assembly, Robert Rivas. His support further underscores the momentum and unity behind our campaign.
As we celebrate these milestones, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your support. Your belief in my candidacy, your time, and your contributions have been the driving force behind our campaign’s success.
Moving forward, let’s continue to stand together and restore the California Dream. With you, we can take this momentum even further and make a lasting impact on our community.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your support has made all the difference. Now, onto the General Election! ¡Adelante con Anamarie! ”
Mitchoff Not Endorsing Avila Farias, Says “I Don’t Trust Her”
However, Mitchoff said she hasn’t endorsed Avila Farias for the general election stating, “I have not spoken to her since the election. She must have seen or heard about my letter.”
About Avila Farias’ claim of moving forward with her in unity, the former supervisor said, “It isn’t that I’m not conceding, which I did in my letter. But there is no way I’m endorsing Anamarie because I don’t trust her. She hasn’t been honest with me about a number of issues, including how she got law enforcement support, specifically the PORAC endorsement.”
Avila Farias Says “Unity Doesn’t Mean Endorsement”
When informed that Mitchoff isn’t endorsing her Avila Farias responded, “Unity doesn’t mean endorsement.” Asked what it does mean, she responded, “Unity of our community.” When informed that Mitchoff said she hasn’t spoken to her since the election and that her comment, “together we will move forward with unit” is in the same sentence in which she mentions the other two Democratic candidates, Avila Farias reiterated her statement.
“Saying we are optimistic about everyone moving forward together in unity that does not mean or imply that I have been endorsed by anyone,” she wrote.
About Mitchoff’s claim of dishonesty and the law enforcement endorsement, Avila Farias responded, “I don’t understand her comment about PORAC. We all went for an interview, and you get a thumbs up or a thumbs down.”
Election Results
According to the California Secretary of State’s website, the unofficial election results with 393 of 393 precincts partially reporting as of March 12, 2024 at 4:25 p.m., Ledo has 24,743 votes or 32.2% of the vote followed by Avila Farias with 23,237 or 30.2%, they’re followed by Wilson with 19,229 votes or 25.0% and Mitchoff is in fourth with 9,662 votes or 12.6% of the vote.
Mail-in ballots postmarked by election day could still be received by the County Elections Office through today and the state website shows, “Results will be certified by April 12, 2024.”
The top two candidates, Ledo and Avila Farias, will face off in the general election on November 5.
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