Evans wins primary, Sanders third

Update:
Capturing nearly 60 percent of the Democratic vote, Noreen Evans was the convincing winner of Tuesday’s primary for the 2nd District Senate seat that includes Sonoma. The Assemblywoman far outpaced challengers Tom Lynch (19 percent), Sonoma City Councilmember Joanne Sanders (15 percent) and David Rosas (7 percent).

In the November election, Evans will face Republican Lawrence Wiesner, who ran unopposed.

“I am deeply touched that voters have overwhelming supported me as their Democratic nominee,” Evans told The Sun. “After the difficult year we’ve had in California, it’s gratifying to know that voters recognize how much experience counts. I look forward representing the party in November and continuing to fight for our values as your next State senator.”

Sanders said Wednesday morning, “While it’s disappointing not to have won the primary yesterday, I congratulate Assemblywoman Evans on her victory and look forward to working with her on Sonoma Valley issues.”

“I want to thank everyone who voted for me,” added Sanders. “Running for state senate has been a positive and rewarding experience for me and I encourage citizens who want to run for public office to go for it.”

The 2nd District race is one of only two open congressional seats in California this year. Evans, termed out of the Assembly, will be the prohibitive favorite in November. The former member of the Santa Rosa City Council has tremendous name recognition in the region, a Democratic stronghold, and will be well financed.

The 2nd Senate District, in which incumbent Pat Wiggins declined to seek a second term, includes all of Santa Rosa; the cities of Sonoma, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Windsor and Cloverdale; and Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, Napa and portions of Solano counties.

In the heated race for Sonoma County District Attorney, challenger Jill Ravitch, with 55 percent of the vote, ousted incumbent Stephan Passalacqua (45 percent). When the two battled for the DA slot in 2006, Passalacqua won by a narrow 1.5 percent margin.

In the marquee state races in November, Meg Whitman will run for governor against Jerry Brown, and Carly Fiorina will contest Barbara Boxer’s U.S. Senate seat.