NEW YORK (JTA) — Rep. Brad Sherman soundly defeated fellow veteran California Democrat Rep. Howard Berman to remain in Congress.
Sherman took 60.5 percent of the vote to Berman’s 39.5 percent. Berman’s influential position as ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee is now up for grabs, and Sherman has said he would vie for it.
The veteran pro-Israel lawmakers fought an often ugly battle in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley. The redistricting-induced race drew national attention, particularly after Sherman grabbed Berman briefly at a debate last month and a video of the incident circulated online.
Berman, a 30-year veteran of the House, had enjoyed an overwhelming advantage in endorsements from congressional colleagues, leading elected officials and Hollywood machers. But he did not fare well in the redrawn district, much of which had been represented by Sherman. In his 16 years in the House, Sherman has earned a reputation for energetic retail politicking.
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