Recount shows Righeimer was GOP’s choice

Eron Ben-Yehuda

If Republicans were the only ones allowed to vote in their primary

election for the local state Assembly seat, Fountain Valley businessman

Jim Righeimer would not have lost to Huntington Beach Councilman Tom

Harman, based on the results of a recount completed this week.

Righeimer received 2,837 more GOP votes than Harman, who nevertheless won

by 9,600 votes because Democrats and independents made the difference in

the open March primary. California’s open primary system allows people to

vote for whomever they wish, regardless of party affiliation.

“[The recount] would not affect, under current law, who was or was not

elected,” said Don Taylor, an assistant county registrar.

But the results have emboldened Righeimer, who until now did not consider

challenging the outcome.

He is pinning his hopes on the U.S. Supreme Court, which is scheduled to

hear arguments April 24 on the constitutionality of the state’s open

primary system. If the court throws out the law, Righeimer said he will

seek to replace Harman as the party’s nominee in the upcoming general

election.

“You’re not it until your name is on the printed ballot in November,” he

said.

But Harman is not worried. Even if the court outlaws open primaries,

Harman, an attorney, does not expect the decision to retroactively change

the results of the race.

“It’s extremely remote,” he said.