Los Angeles, CA – UNITE HERE International Vice President and multi-decade California labor icon Maria Elena Durazo won her primary for the California Senate late Tuesday in a landslide victory, securing over 70% of the vote in a two-way contest with the highest victory margin of any candidate ever for the current seat, which was redistricted in 2011.

The California Senate district Maria Elena won is a powerhouse seat in Los Angeles. The district has a population of nearly one million residents, which is approximately 300,000 constituents larger than the average U.S. congressional district.

UNITE HERE is deeply moved by the stunning victory Maria Elena achieved, and her decades of service in the L.A. immigrant worker community that paved the way for setting the highest win margin ever for the current configuration of the district. Throughout her career, Maria Elena Durazo has helped working families, women, and immigrant communities across North America fight for and win significant advancements. UNITE HERE looks forward to her continuing to pioneer protections and advancements for working Californians when she wins the general election in November.

UNITE HERE represents 270,000 members working in the hotel, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, distribution, laundry, transportation, and airport industries in the U.S. and Canada.