The election results aren't final yet.
But political watchers in Sacramento and Los Angeles are already looking toward the next election. That would be the special election to replace Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas, who won a bruising campaign this week for a coveted seat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
A long list of politicians could make the plunge for the open, traditionally black Los Angeles seat. That includes two current members of the Assembly: Curren Price and Mike Davis.
"Yes, he's looking at running for Senate," said Curtis Earnest, Price's chief of staff.
Davis said he was looking at the race, but that it is "a day or two premature" for a decision.
He added that his district is "nested" in Ridley-Thomas' seat, but that he wanted to wait to see what Speaker Karen Bass, whose district also overlaps with the Senate seat, would do.
Bass has tried to make clear she doesn't want to run -- but the rumors continue to swirl.
The name of ex-Speaker and current Los Angeles City Council member Herb Wesson has been tossed around political circles.
But that's not happening, said Wesson spokesman Ed Johnson: "He is not planning to run for the Senate."
Neither is Wesson's wife, Fabian Wesson, another rumored candidate, said Johnson. She has opened an account to run for the Assembly in 2010 (for Bass' seat).
Councilman Bernard Parks, who lost to Ridley-Thomas in the supervisor race, could not be reached for comment. Nor could termed-out Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally, the 82-year old Compton Democrat who lost a bid for the neighboring Senate bid earlier this year in the primary.
The X-factor could be Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who has shown a penchant for trying to play kingmaker in such races.
Lastly, your faithful blogger (that's me, Shane Goldmacher) will be off through the end of next week. So if you've got any breaking news, be sure to call the rest of the Capitol Bureau at (916) 321-1199.
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