Black Gay Mayor Misses Historic Win By 253 Votes

Openly gay, black mayor of Palm Springs Ron Oden lost the Democratic nomination for the 80th Assembly District to Steve Clute by 253 votes (9,133 to 9, 386). He was trying to become the first openly gay Black official elected to a state office. He would have still had to face Republican Bonnie Garcia if he had won the nomination. Oden did not have to give up his mayoral seat to run, he does not face re-election for that seat until November 2007.