LOS ANGELES – Incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Garcia has taken a slight lead over his Democratic challenger, Assemblywoman Christy Smith, in his bid for a full term representing the 25th Congressional District.
But the race remains far too close to call.
Updated results from Tuesday’s election showed Garcia with a 432-vote lead, claiming 50.1% of the vote. According to the Secretary of State’s Office, Garcia has 148,916 votes, while Smith has 148,484.
While Garcia’s lead is narrow, it still represents a reversal from Thursday night, when Garcia was trailing Smith by 256 votes. On Wednesday, Smith had a 1,722-vote lead.
The district stretches from the Antelope Valley into Ventura County. The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office reported Thursday that there were still 791,200 votes left to tally, although it was unclear how many of those ballots were from the 25th Congressional District.
The county will also continue to accept vote by mail ballots through Nov. 20, if they were postmarked by Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Smith is hoping to avenge a loss to Garcia in a May 12 special election prompted by the resignation of Rep. Katie Hill, D-Agua Dulce, following the online release of salacious photos and allegations of an extramarital affair with a staff member.
The seat had long been held by Republicans until Hill’s 2018 victory over then-Rep. Steve Knight, R-Palmdale.
Tuesday’s election was the fourth time in nine months Garcia had faced Smith. In March, Smith and Garcia finished one-two in a special election to fill the remainder of Hill’s term. Because no candidate received a majority, a runoff was needed.
On that same ballot, Smith and Garcia also topped essentially the same field of candidates in a separate primary race to fill Hill’s seat for the next two years.
In May, Smith and Garcia squared off in the runoff of the March special election to complete Hill’s original term, and Garcia won and was sworn into Congress.
The winner in the current race will take over the seat for the next two years.
Smith’s campaign website touted a variety of priority issues, led by improving public education, ending “corruption in Washington,” boosting support for first responders and ensuring access to affordable health care.
Garcia is a former Navy pilot who said he was inspired to vie for the post because Hill “did not represent our moderate district. I have the choice to stand on the sidelines and see what happens but that is not in my DNA. This is an extension of my desire to serve, this time to fight for my district.”
Previous related story: Smith leads Garcia in 25th Congressional District race
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ACE says
DID STEVE KNIGHT MOVE AWAY TO IDAHO..?
Veethevee says
Can’t let another Pelosi in congress. Good news
Dave says
Very happy, Beecee.
Didn’t ya see all the rallies for Biden yesterday?
Yet, we still have to deal with y’all from the backwoods.
Show us your evidence but you didn’t did you? You changed the subject.
Beecee says
Ya i saw the rallies,
Celebrating a touch too soon……
Dave says
Where’s the evidence, Beecee?
You are just as slimy as the Trump Team.
Beecee says
The evidence won’t be presented to you or some lame stream media fool,
It will be presented to a court and the states legislatures.
Stinger says
Where it will be thrown out as the tripe that it is. There is NO evidence of any significant fraud because there isn’t any. It was a fairly well run election, in SPITE of you trumplican clowns attempting to undermine it.
Trumplican nazis are such idiots.
Beecee says
Like always,
They will find the vote
Dave says
Prove it, Beecee.
Like Trump and his fraud crew, show us the evidence for your thoughtless claims. Trump can’t.
And, you haven’t. You are just shootin’ yer big mouth off.
Beecee says
Wow,
Why so angry,
You should be real happy that you just supposedly won an election and all…….
Dave says
Read the crazy comments by RESIST, Beecee.
Talk about angry. There ya go. He’s with the band, I mean, you.
Lt' Dangle says
METH is bad estroboy.
SHIRLEY says
WOW, Its not up to any voter to show you any evidence. Lets leave that up to President Trump and his lawyers. I am a Trump supporter, but will follow Biden if that is who the people have decided will be our next President. I my not agree but….
I AM AN AMERICAN AND WILL SUPPORT WHOMEVER HAS THE HONOR AND BEING OUR COMMANDER AND CHIEF.