Milpitas Vice Mayor Karina Dominguez drops out of Assembly race

Three months after announcing a bid for California Assembly, Milpitas Vice Mayor Karina Dominguez announced early Saturday on Facebook that she’s dropping out of the race.

“While an Assembly seat provides the opportunity to create great change for our families, after deep reflection and very thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw and end my candidacy for Assembly District 25 ahead of the March 2020 Primary,” Dominguez posted. “Please know that the decision to end my candidacy does not come easy, opportunities like this do not come around often. I remain prepared and strong enough to take up this campaign and this role in Sacramento, but right now my village needs me.”

Dominguez told to San José Spotlight in June that she’s running for Assembly District 25, a highly-contested open seat vacated by Kansen Chu who told this news organization in May that he’s leaving Sacramento to run for county supervisor.

The race initially pitted Dominguez against her colleague, Milpitas Mayor Rich Tran, who dropped out of a county supervisor’s race to seek Chu’s seat, but later dropped out of the Assembly race too. Now he is seeking re-election to his mayoral seat.

Other candidates in the race include Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Anna Song, Santa Clara Unified School District Board of Trustee Jim Canova, San Jose policy advisor Alex Lee and newcomer Natasha Gupta.

Early campaign fundraising totals released last month showed Lee far ahead of his rivals. As of Aug. 14, Lee had raised a total of $20,188, with a median contribution of $20.20. Lee’s campaign is underscoring the “energetic grassroots movement” the 23-year-old political advisor has on his side. Dominguez’s campaign had received $10,239 and as of June 30, Song had raised a total of only $4,100, according to filings with the secretary of state.

Dominguez in her Facebook post reaffirmed her commitment to Milpitas. Dominguez, 37, became a firecracker lawmaker in Milpitas after winning a crowded City Council race in 2018 and then being appointed vice mayor.

“Your belief and trust in me has empowered something within that will not stop,” she wrote. “I want to reassure you all that my commitment to strengthening our families and communities is endless and I will continue to do so in my current capacities. As Vice Mayor of the great City of Milpitas, we will move Milpitas forward by building and strengthening our momentum. Our fight is not over.”

Chu has not yet endorsed anyone for the seat which covers Newark, Fremont, San Jose, Santa Clara and Milpitas.