In a round of politician versus businessman, Democratic candidate Hannah-Beth Jackson took the win for senator of California’s 19th district against Republican candidate Mike Stoker.
In a 54.7 percent to 45.3 percent victory, Jackson wrestled the long-held seat from the Republican Party, which will strengthen the Democratic majority in the California State Senate. This long-fought campaign would ultimately find Jackson victorious by a margin of 134,980 to 111,690 votes.
Surrounded by margaritas and hollering celebration, Jackson watched her lead slowly increase Tuesday, Nov. 6 evening at Santa Barbara’s El Paseo restaurant.
“I’m very fortunate,” Jackson said.
The redistricting has helped Jackson’s campaign by unifying Santa Barbara County with adding more rural and farmland areas and increasing the Hispanic vote.
“The district is now more reflective of the face of California and its communities,” she said. “Politics is about people, and business is about profit.”
A few miles up State street, Stoker was at the Republican Committee Party at the Butler Event Center.
He tried to remain optimistic as he watched the race run away from him while reflecting on last year’s redistricting.
“I think it is important that Santa Barbara County is now whole,” Stoker said.
The two events accurately reflected the moods of each political party. The Democrats had already seen President Obama re-elected and were in full-swing celebration mode. Every local race announcement was greeted with cheers and the raising of glasses. It was festive as making way through the room became increasingly difficult.
However, the Republicans watched Romney lose and were in a somber mood. The drinks flowed to low-volume classic rock music.
Jackson ran a strong platform based heavily on healthcare, education and improving the environment.
These issues are of primary concern to constituency of the 19th district, said Dr. Manoutchehr M. Eskandari-Qajar, chair of the City College political science department.
A seasoned politician, Jackson’s credentials as former State Assembly member and former District Attorney have garnered her support from such groups as California Federation of Teachers and the United Farm Workers.
A self-described problem solver, Jackson says she plans to break the partisanship of Sacramento politics and work together with Republicans for a better California.
“She is able to reach across the aisle,” Eskandari said.
A successful small-businessman, Stoker got the Republican nod based on his platform of job creation, cutting government spending, pension reform and focus on the budget. Stoker sees himself a more progressive Republican with superior bipartisanship skills to Jackson. He highlighted cooperation with and endorsement by local and state officials during his tenure as Chairman of California Agricultural Labor Relations Board as well as his service on Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.
Stoker’s main hope during this election was that his business success as would translate to political success in Sacramento.
“He is running on a mini-Romney platform,” Eskandari said. “… The logic of politics is different from the logic of business.”
The landscape of the 19th district changed drastically in the re-districting of 2011, which brought more diversity to its citizenry and more competition to the race including an increase in Hispanic voters, Eskandari said. However, the Hispanic vote can be hard to predict.
Problems of redistricting, voter diversity and partisanship are problems of politics that the voters of California’s District 19ultimately decided require the logic of politician Hannah-Beth Jackson not that of businessman Mike Stoker.
Graphic by: Morten Opedal
