Cristina Garcia Wins 58th Assembly District Race

With an overwhelming lead against her opponent in Tuesday night’s general election, local educator and community activist, Cristina Garcia won the newly redrawn 58th State Assembly District, which includes Cerritos and Artesia.

Garcia, 34, beat out Republican business owner Patricia Kotze-Ramos with more than 70 percent of the vote. Garcia finished the race with 69,256 votes to Kotze-Ramos' 27,623 votes.

Both ladies had come on top during California’s Open Primary in June, with Kotze-Ramos receiving the highest percentage of votes - 28 percent - as the only Republican candidate. Garcia received 26 percent of the votes in the primary, beating out four other democrats in the process.

In a letter to District 58 constituents via Patch recently, Garcia asked voters to vote for her and make their voices heard.

“Please know that I'll work hard to make you proud and bring about real reform that will make our communities stronger,” said Garcia.

Garcia, who grew up in Bell Gardens, has become a big supporter and fighter for local government reform.

Her most well known reform stint was her key involvement in the BASTA (Bell Association to Stop the Abuse), an advocacy organization that helped force out Bell’s infamous corrupt officials a few years ago.

This is Garcia’s first win for an elected office, having lost in a run for a Bell Gardens city council seat in 2009. 

The 58th Assembly District includes Artesia, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Cerritos, Commerce, Downey, Lakewood, Montebello, Norwalk, Pico Rivera.