LOS ANGELES - California Governor Jerry Brown Monday called a special election to fill the seat of Democratic Representative Jane Harman, marking the first election under the state's new open primary rules.
Brown set the election to replace Harman, who resigned last month, for July 12. Under California election codes, the primary must be held on May 17.
Under California's new primary rules, if no candidate wins a majority of votes, the top two vote-getters in the general election would advance to the July run-off, regardless of party.
Secretary of State Debra Bowen and Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn, both Democrats, have said they will seek to replace Harman and are considered front-runners for the seat.
Harman resigned from Congress to head the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, a think tank.
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