Bonta, Quirk Win Easy Re-Election To State Assembly

Assemblymembers Rob Bonta and Bill Quirk won easy re-election Tuesday night.

ASSEMBLY | DISTRICT 18/20 | What a difference two years makes. Rob Bonta and Bill Quirk each won election to the State Assembly in 2012 following two of the closest races in the region. This time around was far easier.

Democratic Oakland Assemblymember Rob Bonta coasted to another sizable victory over Republican David Erlich. During the June Primary, Bonta beat Erlich by 70 points, five months later he matched the margin of victory. Bonta earned 85 percent of the vote in the 18th Assembly District Tuesday night to Erlich’s 15 percent.

For Erlich, closing the gap just a bit was not in the cards after he was admitted to the hospital Oct. 9 for emergency surgery for a perforated ulcer. Last Friday, Erlich said he would remain at San Leandro Hospital past Election Day.

Two years ago, Bonta narrowly edged out Abel Guillen in the 18th District by just one percent of the vote. During the same election, Quirk also faced a tougher-than-expected race against Jennifer Ong. The former Hayward council member won by just 917 votes.

The margin of victory Tuesday night was much different. Quirk, a Democrat, won re-election to the Hayward-Tri Cities Assembly seat over Republican Jaime Patino. Quirk won 71 percent of the vote, followed by Patino’s 29 percent.