Primary imperils some legislative comeback bids

California’s top-two primary system delivered Election Day drama in a handful of state legislative contests, including for some former lawmakers who saw their comeback campaigns imperiled.

Former Assemblywoman Betsy Butler was in the middle of the pack among seven Democrats running for the top two spots in Senate District 26 in western Los Angeles County, but she was trailing several candidates.

They included Sandra Fluke, who gained national attention and an insult from radio commentator Rush Limbaugh in 2012 when she testified before Congress in favor of requiring employer-provided health insurance to cover birth control.

Alameda and Santa Clara county voters seemed unwilling to forgive former Democratic Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi for shoplifting nearly $2,500 worth of clothing from Neiman Marcus in 2011. In preliminary returns, she was in third place.