Los Angeles County Registrar Certifies June 2 Primary, Confirms Pasadena Council Sweep and Measure ER Passage

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan certified the final results for the June 2 primary election on Friday, locking in a clean sweep for Pasadena’s three City Council incumbents and the narrow countywide passage of Measure ER, a healthcare sales tax that a city official confirmed would likely send approximately $1 million a year to the Pasadena Public Health Department.

The certification, issued the first day counties are permitted to certify under the time frame prescribed in the California Elections Code, makes official a set of outcomes that directly shape Pasadena: Councilmembers Justin L. Jones, Jess Rivas and Jason Lyon return for new four-year terms, and the half-cent County sales tax that Pasadena voters helped decide now moves toward implementation.

Logan’s office reported that 2,227,461 ballots were processed and counted, with 37.81% of eligible voters casting ballots in Los Angeles County.

Official election canvassing began on June 3, and all outstanding ballots were reviewed and tallied once verified during the canvass period.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to declare the election officially concluded at its meeting on Tuesday.

All three Pasadena City Council incumbents retained their seats by commanding margins, with no serious challenges mounted against any of them.

In District 3, Jones was reelected with 1,635 votes (77.27%) over challenger Erica Margarita Muñoz, who received 507 votes (22.73%). In District 5, Vice Mayor Rivas ran unopposed and was reelected with 1,867 votes. In District 7, Lyon won a new term with 3,041 votes (83.90%) over Alethea O’Toole, who received 626 votes (17.07%).

Jones and Lyon each faced challengers who mounted no major campaigns, and O’Toole reportedly withdrew after the ballot deadline — meaning her name remained on the ballot despite her exit from the race.

All three incumbents were elected to new four-year terms.

Countywide, Measure ER — the Essential Services Restoration Act — narrowly passed in a come-from-behind win. On election night, the measure appeared headed for defeat with only 46.89% support. Over the following weeks, as late-arriving mail ballots were counted — ballots that tend to skew Democratic — the measure climbed steadily. By June 9, it had crossed the 50% threshold for the first time, and by June 21, with virtually all ballots counted, it passed by approximately 24,436 votes — roughly 50.6% to 49.4%.

Measure ER enacts a temporary half-cent (0.5%) general sales tax increase for five years, raising the LA County sales tax from 9.75% to 10.25% through October 1, 2031, and is projected to generate approximately $1 billion per year countywide. Groceries, prescription medications and medical equipment are exempt. The measure required only a simple majority to pass.

A key provision of Measure ER dedicates 1% of revenues to support the cities of Pasadena and Long Beach, the only two municipalities in LA County with their own independent Public Health Departments. That share is to be divided proportionately between the two cities based on their respective core public health expenditures over the prior five fiscal years.

A Pasadena city official confirmed that the Pasadena Public Health Department would likely receive approximately $1 million per year from the new tax.

The broader revenue allocation formula directs 45% to the County Department of Health Services, 22% to safeguard public hospitals and clinics, 10% to the Department of Public Health, 5% to nonprofit health agencies, and smaller shares to school-based health, Medi-Cal outreach, correctional health services, and in-home supportive services for seniors and people with disabilities. A nine-member citizens’ oversight committee with annual independent audits was established to ensure accountability.

The tax is not expected to take effect until at least January 1, 2027, pending state legislative approval.

Pasadena falls within California’s 28th Congressional District, where incumbent Democratic Rep. Judy Chu advanced comfortably in the top-two primary. With all LA County precincts reporting, Chu captured 67.9% of the LA County vote and 62.2% districtwide. Republican challenger April A. Verlato finished second with 32.1% districtwide, and Democrat Peter Roybal trailed at 5.7%. Chu and Verlato will advance to the November general election.

Assembly District 41, which is anchored by Pasadena as its largest city, saw incumbent Democratic Assemblymember John Harabedian easily win his primary. Harabedian received 70.7% of the LA County vote within the District against Republican challenger Adam Christopher Vena, who drew 29.3%. Harabedian will advance to the November general alongside Vena under California’s top-two system.

In the Pasadena Glen Community Services District, Measure B proposed a special parcel tax of $800 per year per legal-address property to fund the improvement and maintenance of roads and culverts within the District, with annual adjustments tied to the Construction Cost Index not to exceed 5%. The measure passed with 73.44% approval and is projected to generate approximately $52,000 annually, with all revenues retained within the District and subject to annual reporting and oversight by the District Board.

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to declare the election officially concluded at its meeting Tuesday. Official election results can be found at lavote.gov.