As she seeks her third and final term as Los Angeles County Supervisor, Kathryn Berger and her allies are seeking her support from labor unions, the Sierra Club, and the local lobbying group Planned Parenthood. , touting her concern for climate change and her willingness to take a stand. To the NRA and former President Trump.

It would be a standard campaign move for a Democrat, although Berger is a lifelong Republican who deplores the takeover of the party by “radicals.”

Winning elections in Democratic-heavy Los Angeles County would be difficult at best for most Republicans, but Berger has generally moderate positions and the four Democrats he serves on the Board of Supervisors, three of whom he supports. He has won twice, driven by his willingness to cooperate with the team. she.

The challenges have gotten a little steeper since 2021 redistricting made the vast 5th District a little less conservative. Some neighborhoods in the northwestern San Fernando Valley were eliminated, but more liberal neighborhoods in Los Angeles were brought in.

So as Ms. Berger faces off against four opponents led by Rep. Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), she and her allies are touting their support for family planning and appealing to Democratic and independent voters. He has emphasized a moderate stance on issues that could lead to

Meanwhile, in his campaign materials, Holden claims that Berger “supports Donald Trump's MAGA policy,” a claim she denies, and that Berger's Republican values He points out that he has chosen to emphasize this.

“His best bet would be to actually tag her as a Trump Republican or a partisan Republican, even if it's not accurate in terms of her voting record — she's on the board and other “She's so well-known throughout the district that it's impossible to actually try to attack her,” Schwartz said. said Christian Gross, academic director of the Enegger Institute.

Supervisor elections are nonpartisan. This means that a candidate's political party will not be listed on the ballot. Instead, voters only see their job title. If no one receives more than 50% of the primary vote, the top two candidates will face a runoff in November.

Berger, a county employee since the late 1980s, and Holden, who has held public office for about 35 years, are the best-known candidates in the race. If Berger wins, this will be his last term due to term limits.

The remaining three are Burbank City Council members. Constantine Anthony, public engineer and businessman Marlon Marroquin, and attorney and nonprofit leader Perry Goldberg have accused Berger of trying to play both sides.

Of the 1.2 million registered voters in the 5th District, 46% are Democrats, up from 43% before 2021 redistricting, according to county election data. About 25% support Republicans, down from 26%, and about 23% say they don't support a political party, down from about 26%.

“It's not a dramatic change, but I think it will change in the future.” [43%] up to 46% [Democrats]Even if it's not a huge change, in a close election, that's the margin,” said Gross, a political science and public policy professor at USC.

In most elections in Los Angeles County, moderate Democrats are challenged by more liberal members of their own party, said Raphael Sonnenschein, a longtime researcher of California politics. The 5th District offers a rare opportunity for moderate Republicans like Mr. Berger to succeed.

“But candidates considered Republican-leaning must avoid the downsides of being a Republican in California, where people's focus is on the party.” said Sonnenschein, executive director of the John Randolph Haynes Dora Haynes Foundation. the study.

Experts said Berger's focus on family planning support could give him an edge with Democrats and other left-leaning voters, especially women and LGBTQ+ voters.

“Her opponents sense a trend among her voters. [to lean] There is a growing number of left-wingers who want to paint Berger as a Trump believer based on these mailers, but there is a clear way for Berger to dispel any doubts about his loyalty to Trump by Democrats, especially Democrats. It focuses on a core issue for women: support for their fertility. It’s a right,” said Jennifer M. Piscopo, associate professor of politics at Occidental College.

Holden said in the email that he has a “100% legislative score” from the Planned Parenthood Association of California, and included an image of himself wearing a pink Planned Parenthood T-shirt and speaking to supporters. It was attached.

Sue Dunlap, the project's board chair, said Berger received support from Planned Parenthood Project Los Angeles County because of his long history of working with the broader organization.

Since Berger was elected, when protesters outside the clinic block patients from entering or exiting, Dunlap, who heads Los Angeles Planned Parenthood, and his staff can easily reach out to top officials at the Sheriff's Department to ensure that staff and patients are safe. Dunlap said they have made sure that the safety of the public is maintained.

“This isn't about him any more than I don't support Chris Holden,” Dunlap said. “it is [Barger] And we have been working together for over 15 years. … We trust her and we know she will answer her calls. ”

Holden has joined several local and state leaders, including the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, U.S. Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank), and several labor unions, including SEIU Local 2015, which represents long-term care workers. Supported by the union. , and his three other SEIU unions.

Throughout the campaign, Mr. Holden has sought to bring Mr. Berger into Mr. Trump's larger orbit.

Citing county fundraising data, Holden said in campaign materials and interviews that Berger raised more than $448,000 from donors to former President Trump. Mr. Berger denies this, saying Mr. Holden also has donors to President Trump.

Holden said Berger is supporting a Pennsylvania Senate candidate who claims the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. Berger said the candidate is not endorsed by President Trump, but is a personal friend who made his first donation to his campaign in 2016.

“It's values, okay? You're my friend, but oops, my friend has some wacky ideas here, and what if I support her?” Holden said. “Who will know that I support my friend? All they will know is that I supported this person who denies the election.”

Holden criticized Berger abstain from voting Based on a 2018 recommendation by D.C. county lobbyists, Pushing for a ban on semi-automatic weapons.

Berger said he supports gun control, including a ban on .50-caliber handguns and firearms. Other measures The board passed the bill last year, adding, “I cannot agree with certain motions that have been filed because they do not reflect the fact that I am not a gun control supporter,” adding that the U.S. continues to add gun regulations. He added that Administer laws without enforcing laws already on the books.

Holden said Berger takes conservative positions on immigration, and Berger was reported to have said at the 2017 Republican Women's Luncheon that the U.S. needs Trump's approach to immigration. He pointed out that. She said Berger said she hopes tough love will work out because “obviously she's playing nice in the sandbox and it's not going to do anything.” It has been reported. Santa Clarita Valley Signal Story.

Berger said her comments were taken out of context and that the “tough love” she spoke of is the energy regulators should direct toward Congress. Because both Democrats and Republicans are using our broken immigration system as a political pawn, and it's causing harm. LA County resident.