LOS ANGELES — Ela Darling and members of a progressive slate she ran with weren’t elected as delegates for the Democratic Assembly in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley.
Though Darling wasn’t elected outright, she was able to gain enough votes — 90 — to earn the second runner-up seat for District 39, according to the FSC Policy Director Siouxsie Q.
This means that if any of seatholder resigns, Darling will take their place, Siouxsie Q told XBIZ.
Darling ran under her legal name, Rebecca Rubinstein, on a progressive platform in District 39 with a slate of other candidates "focused on creating change in the Democratic Party from within."
There were 14 available delegate seats for Democratic Assembly District 39, which encompasses the northern part of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, including the communities of North Hollywood, Sun Valley, Mission Hills, Arleta, Lake View Terrace, Sunland-Tujunga, Pacoima and Sylmar.
Prior to the election, Darling secured endorsement from both the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee, which she helms as president, and the adult entertainment trade group Free Speech Coalition.
Campaigning until the very end, Darling talked to hundreds of voters who came to El Cariso Park’s multi-purpose room in Sylmar today at 10:30 a.m. Polls closed at 12:30 p.m.
Prior to the vote, Darling called the election experience “eye-opening.”
“Our fight against Prop 60 emboldened me to run today," Darling said. "Today's election has reignited the fire for me to fight against establishment politics and continue to support progressive voices and ideals.
“There is a divide between progressive candidates who exude passion and integrity and the establishment candidates who didn't even bother to show up to speak today and try to earn votes," she said.
“There is a lot of grassroots work to be done going forward. The time to demand change and accountability is now."