Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
The only City Council incumbent who had to sweat out the final count late into the night is Bernard Parks, who hovered just above a majority with 94 percent of the precincts in. Parks was targeted by labor and by county Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who backed challenger Forescee Hogan-Rowles. She's about eight points behind and can't close that, but she would be satisfied just to sneak into a runoff with Parks. If that happens, things will get nasty in CD 8. (100% update: Parks lands at 50.89 percent, enough to survive if the late absentees and provisionals don't get him.)
Otherwise, all the other incumbent councilmembers won reelection — no runoffs needed. That despite the looming city budget deficit, media endorsements that went against the old guard and the illusion of grass-roots rebellion stage-managed by challengers and their friends. Jose Huizar easily retired the ambitions of Rudy Martinez. Tom LaBonge had to work harder than usual to get past Tomas O'Grady (Stephen Box was the darling of activists but a non-factor with actual CD4ians.) Tony Cardenas needed just 3,800 votes to win another term, and councilmen Herb Wesson and Paul Krekorian didn't even need to get out of bed on Tuesday. In the west Valley, anointed successor Mitch Englander won the open CD 12 seat without looking back. He'll replace his boss, Greig Smith.
If you're keeping score on the Ron Kaye mad as hell slate, the only incumbent in trouble — Parks — is the one they endorsed. All the school board and community college holdovers will be back; it looks as if Luis Sanchez and Bennett Kayser will do the runoff dance for the open school board seat.
Los Angeles voters also approved DWP reforms, a tax on medical marijuana sales, the library funding measure and everything else on the ballot except the oil extraction tax (which is losing but a tad too close to call.)
Turnout in the city looks to be just under 12% of Los Angeles' registered voters.