Although results are not yet certified, the latest vote count released by the county of Los Angeles for the June 2 Statewide Direct Primary and the Beverly Hills Municipal Election shows Beverly Hills Councilmember Sharona Nazarian with a commanding lead in her reelection bid, with 4,894 votes as of press time.
Councilmember Lester Friedman is also assured of reelection with his second-highest vote tally of 2,672 votes. Architectural and Design Review Commission Chair Rebecca Pynoos is in third place, leading Cultural Heritage Commissioner Andy Licht for the third City Council seat. As of press time, the Pynoos and Licht vote counts stood at 2,480 and 2,393, respectively.
The most recent vote counts for the remaining seven candidates are 1,892 for Russell Stuart; 1,819 for Ariel Rofeim; 751 for Roger Tanenbaum; 338 for Barry Axelrod; 272 for Andrew Kole; 261 for Jonathan Mariande; and 194 for Clayton M. Saunders.
Vote-by-mail ballots returned by Election Day and received within seven days of Election Day may still be processed and counted after Election Day, along with conditional voter registration ballots, provisional ballots and ballots requiring additional review or verification.
The results must be certified by July 10.
In a statement to the Courier, Nazarian expressed her gratitude to the community.
“Although the results are not yet official, I am incredibly honored and humbled by the support shown by our community,” she said. “This moment belongs to all of us! I share this with every volunteer, supporter, friend, family member and resident who believed in our grassroots campaign and vision for our city. I love this community and remain committed to serving with gratitude, integrity and unity. Congratulations to the other candidates on running a good campaign. I look forward to working together with whoever the city elects, because our greatest successes come when we put community above politics and work together for Beverly Hills.”
Friedman told the Courier that he is looking ahead to serving on the council for his final term.
“As I enter my third term on council as the most senior member, I take that responsibility seriously and will use my experience to help move the council and city forward,” he said.
Speaking to the Courier about her third-place position that, if sustained, would lead to a seat on the council, Pynoos said she is “humbled by the support of our community.”
“I remain thoughtful and measured as results are subject to change,” she said. “The campaign for me embodied what I love about Beverly Hills and our small-town feel, where neighbors excitedly put up lawn signs, where I met friends who now three months later feel like chosen family. This was truly a community endeavor with recent college grads from BHHS to longtime residents in their 90s all showing support. That’s the Beverly Hills I love.”
Licht told the Courier that the election “has been a powerful reminder that every vote matters.”
“I am deeply grateful to the residents of Beverly Hills who participated in the process and to the many supporters, volunteers and friends who stood with our campaign,” he said. “While the latest results are not currently trending my way, ballots are still being counted, and I remain hopeful until every vote is tallied. Regardless of the final outcome, I am honored by the trust so many residents placed in me and thankful for the countless conversations I had throughout this campaign. I congratulate all of the candidates who stepped forward to serve our community. I remain committed to the priorities that unite us: public safety, fiscal responsibility, responsive government and preserving the unique character of Beverly Hills. It has been a privilege to earn so much support, and I look forward to continuing to serve the city I love.”
In other races of interest to the city, Beverly Hills resident Brian Goldsmith has received the second-highest number of votes in the race for State Senator, 24th District. G. Rick Marshall has received the most votes. If these results are sustained, both will advance to the general election in November.
“I’m confident that when we have the final count, our campaign will have built a coalition that keeps us in the top two and positions us to win the general election in November,” Goldsmith told the Courier. “While we wait for final numbers, I want to thank everyone who supported us, including so many friends and neighbors in Beverly Hills. Over the past year, I have heard the stories of residents and businesses deeply concerned about public safety, affordability, and the forces tearing us apart, especially antisemitism. I will be a strong advocate for our district and our values in the Legislature.”
Another Beverly Hills resident, Donna Tryfman, appears likely to advance to the Nov. 3 general election for Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge.
“Finishing first sends a powerful message: voters want judges selected based only on qualifications, experience and character,” she said in an email to the Courier. “I am proud that my positive campaign, which centered on fairness, integrity and honor over many years, resonated with voters across Los Angeles County. The work continues, and I am excited to carry this momentum into November. When voters focus on a substantive and quality record, they choose fairness, experience and integrity every time. Those are the qualities that matter.”
Additional updates to this story will be posted online at beverlyhillscourier.com.
