Darrell Steinberg next Sacramento mayor, avoiding runoff

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Former state Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg won handily in the race to replace former NBA star Kevin Johnson as mayor of Sacramento.

Steinberg easily outpaced second-place City Councilwoman Angelique Ashby in Tuesday’s primary election.

And by winning well over 50 percent of the vote, he avoids a November runoff.

Steinberg was Senate leader at the height of the Great Recession and had a reputation as a friendly-but-tough negotiator.

Ashby unsuccessfully sued over Steinberg’s transfer of $200,000 from his state campaign for attorney general.

Former professional boxer Tony “The Tiger” Lopez, the only Republican in the race, finished a distant third.