Leno Defeats
Migden for State Senate Nomination

Gay assemblyman Mark Leno won the Democratic primary Tuesday night to become the party's nominee for California's third district senate seat, defeating lesbian incumbent Carole Migden. The district -- which includes the eastern neighborhoods of San Francisco, all of Marin County, and part of Sonoma County -- is largely Democratic, so the November election is practically a foregone conclusion. Leno also defeated former assemblyman Joe Nation.

"It's very thrilling," Leno told the Bay Area Reporter. "It's really a night of elation."

Migden was hurt by accusations of campaign finance violations last year. The scandal resulted in her being fined a record $350,000 for her financial indiscretions, which included using surplus funds for personal use, according to the Reporter.

If Leno wins the seat in November, he will become the first openly gay male state senator in California. He has already vowed to work on defeating the upcoming November ballot initiative that would amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage and thereby nullify the California supreme court's May 15 ruling instituting marriage equality.

Migden and Leno once worked closely together and were considered allies when they were both San Francisco city supervisors. In 2002, however, Migden's decision to support former supervisor Harry Britt instead of Leno for her assembly seat caused a rift between two of the most powerful gay legislators in Northern California. (The Advocate)