The result of Tuesday's primary election for the District 22 Assembly seat was a foregone conclusion: both candidates would continue onto the November general election.
While races for other seats were more competitive, only two candidates entered the District 22 race: South San Francisco City Councilmember Kevin Mullin, a Democrat, and Redwood City businessman Mark Gilham, a Republican.
But if the poll results were a barometer of where the candidates stand five months out from the general election, then Mullin stands well ahead: he garnered 68 percent of Tuesday's vote.
"We’re thrilled with the numbers as they’re rolling in; I think it’s a good indicator of some strong support," Mullin said Tuesday evening. "We’re absolutely not going to take anything for granted, and we’re going to run an aggressive grassroots campaign throughout the fall."
District 22 represents most of South San Francisco as well as Pacifica, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, Hillsborough, San Mateo, Belmont, Foster City, San Carlos and Redwood City.
Mullin, who has raised over $160,000 in his race, said he plans to coordinate campaigning efforts with the Democratic Party and the San Mateo Labor Council in the fall. He expects excitement around the presidential race to garner a much higher turnout in November, and as the Democrat in a Democratic-leaning area, expects he will benefit from that turnout.
"This is just the first phase of a long campaign cycle," Mullin said.
