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Janice Hahn won’t seek Jenny Oropeza’s state Senate seat

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Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn announced Thursday that she has decided not to run for the state Senate seat that was left open by the death of state Sen. Jenny Oropeza (D-Long Beach).

‘Right now, I want to focus on my current job as a City Council member. I love my job and think that at this point, Los Angeles is where I can be most effective,’ Hahn said in a written statement.

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Hahn also endorsed Assemblyman Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) for the seat representing the 28th Senate District. Lieu, who could not seek re-election to the Assembly seat due to term limits, lost the Democratic primary election for attorney general in June. He was the first to announce his candidacy for the state Senate seat.

Assemblyman Warren Furutani (D-Gardena) said earlier he also was considering entering the race. Aerospace contracts manager John Stammreich, the Republican who came in second on Nov. 2, said he would not be a candidate in the special election, likely to be held this spring, but would consider another effort in 2012, after district lines are redrawn and might make the now-heavily Democratic district more winnable for a Republican.

Oropeza died Oct. 20, too late for her name to be removed from the ballot, and she was posthumously re-elected. The governor must call a special election after the new term begins in January.

-- Jean Merl

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