Garcetti and Greuel to advance to runoff election for LA mayoral seat

Candidates Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel will advance to a runoff election in May for the L.A. mayoral seat, after both failed to garner a majority of the vote in Tuesday’s primary election.

Garcetti finished with a slim lead over Greuel. Garcetti, a city councilman of Los Angeles’ 13th district that includes Hollywood, Echo Park and Koreatown, caught 32.93 percent of the vote. Greuel, who audits and supervises Los Angeles’ budget as the city controller, trailed with 29.19 percent.

Republican candidate and attorney Kevin James followed in third place with 16.36 percent, and Democrat and city councilwoman Jan Perry took 15.93 percent.

Experts have long predicted that Garcetti and Greuel, both Democrats, would face off in the runoff election on May 21.

Voter turnout was low throughout the city. About 14 percent of L.A. registered voters came out to the voting booths on Tuesday.

At UCLA, voter turnout was just 2.2 percent of registered voters at the Rieber and De Neve polling places.

The winner of the runoff election will replace two-term Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who will step down from office on June 30.

Reports compiled by Kristen Taketa, Bruin staff

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