Both Sides Claim Win in Costly L.A. School Board Race

The nearly $5 million spending duel between labor groups and wealthy education activists that brought national attention to the race for three Los Angeles school board seats ended this week in a sort of draw.

Steve Zimmer, a teacher and one-term incumbent, will return to the board as the District 4 representative after narrowly defeating newcomer Kate Anderson. Her candidacy received the support of more than $1.5 million in independent expenditures bankrolled by a cadre of education activists that included New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

Mr. Zimmmer was endorsed by the United Teachers Los Angeles and, while outspent, received substantial financial backing from the UTLA and other labor groups, including $150,000 from the American Federation of Teachers. He received 52 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s nonpartisan primary, while Ms. Anderson captured 48 percent, according to results from Los Angeles election officials .