Simitian easily wins Assembly seat

Santa Clara County Supervisor and Palo Alto resident Joe Simitian won a seat in the state Assembly, beating Republican challenger Deborah Wilder and Green Party candidate Gloria Purcell.

Simitian won the assembly seat for the 21st district, which includes both Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, from Foster City down to Los Altos. Districtwide, Simitian took 55.4 percent (71,605 votes) Wilder got 34.9 percent (45,043 votes) and Purcell got 9.7 percent (12,656 votes).

Simitian won 59.2 percent of the vote in Santa Clara County and 53.4 percent in San Mateo County.

"It's gratifying to win not only this county but also in San Mateo County," Simitian said at a Democratic victory party in Palo Alto.

Simitian will replace Assemblyman Ted Lempert, D-Palo Alto, who is leaving the seat because of term limits.

--Jennifer Kavanaugh