A Los Angeles assemblyman who had been running previously un-opposed has now been facing a stiff challenge from a write-in candidate who appears to be gathering steam.

The Los Angeles Daily News announced its endorsement yesterday of Angela Rupert, an immigration attorney and first-time candidate, over incumbent Adrin Nazarian (D-Sherman Oaks).

Nazarian, a two-term legislator, won 99.6% of the votes in the June primary. But the Daily News said that Rupert, who won just 131 write-in votes, "has the potential to be a better Assembly member" than Nazarian.

the newspaper's editorial board, which endorsed Nazarian in his last two elections wrote, "After four years, we aren’t seeing big results. Nazarian still sounds less comfortable with confrontation than with negotiation and equivocal positions, and satisfied with incremental victories."

Nazarian's campaign has claimed that Rupert was recruited to run by his Democratic colleague, Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Glendale), with whom he has had an ongoing public feud.

Rupert is married to Jason Insalaco, a former staffer for Gatto, and Rupert's write-in candidacy had been supported by a group of anti-vaccination parents who have also supported Gatto. Gatto voted against SB 277, California's new law eliminating personal belief exemptions for schoolchildren.

Last month, a judge struck down Rupert's ballot designation as an "educator" after Nazarian complained that it wasn't her primary job. She will now appear on the ballot as an "attorney/small businesswoman."

Internal polling released by Rupert's campaign earlier this month showed the assemblyman leading 34% to 25%, with 41% of voters undecided.

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By Prakriti Neogi