Name: CA-25 Special Election: Republican Mike Garcia Ahead In Race To Replace Katie Hill In Congress
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CA-25 Special Election: Republican Mike Garcia Ahead In Race To Replace Katie Hill In Congress

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Support for LAist comes fromWe Explain L.A.Stay ConnectedLAist is part of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), a member-supported public media network. Hear our news on-air at our partner site:Our top stories delivered weeknightsShare ThisThis is an archival story that predates current editorial management.This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click.Stories like these are only possible with your help!You have the power to keep local news strong for the coming months. Your financial support today keeps our reporters ready to meet the needs of our city. Thank you for investing in your community.Sign up for How To LA, delivered weekday mornings.Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: . To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.Republican Mike Garcia, a former Navy fighter pilot, took an early lead over Democratic Assemblywoman Christy Smith Tuesday night in the special election to fill the House seat left vacant when ex-Rep. Katie Hill last fall. You can check the latest official totals .Support for LAist comes fromFinal update of the night came in around 1 AM from LA County. Widens Republican Mike Garcia's lead over Democrat Christy Smith. Garcia - 80,337 or 56% of the voteSmith - 62,998 or 44% Democrats will have to hope for massive late turnout to overcome Garcia's advantage — Libby Denkmann (@libdenk)Voters in the 25th district, which spans parts of northern L.A. County and eastern Ventura County, have been casting their ballots for weeks, ever since Governor Newsom ordered the county to expand voting by mail to every registered voter in the area, as a safety precaution due to COVID-19. Hill won the district during the "blue wave" of 2018. But she resigned ten months into her term after intimate photos of her were published online without her consent, and a House Ethics committee investigation started looking into an alleged affair with a staff member. Raytheon executive Garcia had been leading Smith in early mail-in ballot returns. But with many outstanding ballots still to be tallied, Garcia was not ready to declare himself the winner after polls closed. "I won't give a victory speech tonight," Garcia said on a conference call with supporters and members of the media. But he added, "it is looking extremely good."On Wednesday, the Garcia campaign released a statement indicating it was poised to declare victory.I'm ready to go to work... — Mike Garcia (@ElectMikeGarcia)Smith released a statement thanking volunteers -- and urging patience."I am extremely grateful for the support our campaign has received from every corner of this district," Smith said. "The outcome of this race remains too early to call."Support for LAist comes fromShe added she plans to return to work in Sacramento on Wednesday.The nonpartisan election analysis shop, Political Data Inc., has been tracking the number of Republican, Democratic, and "other" (including no party preference) ballots that county election officials have processed in the weeks leading up to May 12. Prior to election day, Republicans led Democrats in ballot returns by 14 points.UPDATE in with Ventura added, total returns hit 34%, Republicans at 46% Turnout, Democrats at 32% turnout. — CA120 (@CA_120)Counting the vote in California . Ballots can be postmarked up to and including election day, and will be counted as long as they arrive by Friday May 15. There will also be a block of in-person ballots to be counted, including provisional ballots, which have to be verified by election workers, and take longer to process. In the 2018 midterms, for the Associated Press to call a winner in the 39th congressional district in Orange County, when Democrat Gil Cisneros managed to scrape by with a win against Republican Young Kim, who led on election night. As of Election Day, over 144,000 mail-in ballots had been returned in the 25th district race. That puts it on pace to match or exceed the March 3rd primary election turnout, which votes cast, or a 38% turnout. There were also about a dozen in-person voting centers in the district available for people who lost their ballots, wanted to register or change parties, or needed special accommodations to vote. Workers at L.A. County voting sites cleaned ballot marking machines, tables, and even ballpoint pens before and after each use, while enforcing social distancing."We have sanitizers, we have Clorox wipes, we're here to provide gloves and masks if needed," Palmdale vote center election worker Steven Toro said earlier this month, when vote centers opened. The Cook Political Report rated Smith and Garcia's chances a "toss-up." If Garcia pulls off a victory, this would be the first time a Republican has captured a Democratic House seat in California since 1998.No matter who wins the seat for the next seven months, it will be short-lived. The remainder of Hill's term expires in Jan. 2021. Smith and Garcia are slated to meet again in the November general election to compete for a full two-year term.This post was last updated at 12:32 PM Wednesday with a statement from Mike Garcia.

Support for LAist comes fromWe Explain L.A.Stay ConnectedLAist is part of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), a member-supported public media network. Hear our news on-air at our partner site:Our top stories delivered weeknightsShare ThisThis is an archival story that predates current editorial management.This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial...

CA-25 Special Election: Republican Mike Garcia Ahead In Race To Replace Katie Hill In Congress

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