Garamendi, Mendoza to Square Off in November

March 6, 2002

A pretty decisive victory on the Democratic side, while the Republican race proved much closer than many analysts expected. Just another day in California politics.

In the race for California Insurance Commissioner, former commissioner John Garamendi won handily on the Democratic side Tuesday evening, while Gary Mendoza appeared to have claimed the Republican nomination, although challenger Stefan Stitch put up quite the battle.

According to numbers released from the California Secretary of State’s office Wednesday morning, Garamendi captured 38.5 percent of the vote on the Democratic side, garnering 723,438 votes. Tom Umberg placed second with 28.1 percent (529,625 votes), Thomas Calderon was third with 23.1 percent (436,188 votes) and Bill Winslow finishing fourth with 10.3 percent (193,975 votes).

In a much closer race on the Republican side, Mendoza garnered 41.7 percent of the vote (725,538 votes), outdistancing Stitch, who pulled in 36.4 percent (634,268 votes). Wes Bannister finished with 21.9 percent of the vote (383,005).

Of the other four parties who presented candidates, Green Party representative David Ishmael Sheidlower finished on top with 31,671 votes.

Harry Low, who came to office following the resignation of Chuck Quackenbush, did not run.

Topics California

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