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Republican leads special election to fill Katie Hill’s congressional seat [updated]

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Republican Mike Garcia and Democrat Christy Smith.

PALMDALE – Republican aerospace executive Mike Garcia holds a 56%-44% lead over Democratic Assemblywoman Christy Smith in the special election to fill the congressional seat formerly held by Democrat Katie Hill, according to semi-official results released Wednesday.

However, there are still many outstanding ballots to be counted in the nearly entirely vote-by-mail election, according to Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean C. Logan. The first Los Angeles County update will be provided Friday, Logan said.

Vote-by-mail ballots that were received at the in-person voting sites and drop-boxes in Ventura County will begin to be counted Wednesday, with the first update set to be released at 4 p.m., according to the Ventura County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark A. Lunn.

Garcia has 80,337 votes to 62,998 for Smith, according to figures released by election officials early Wednesday.

“The data is looking extremely encouraging that we’ve seen so far,” Garcia told supporters on a conference call on Tuesday, May 12.

“I’m extremely humbled by this turnout. I’m proud of the results so far and look forward to declaring victory very soon and getting to work in Washington, D.C., for this beautiful 25th Congressional District in California.”

The Garcia campaign released a statement Tuesday night, saying: “While the night is early and there are still votes to be counted, we are confident our message of low taxes and not taking Sacramento dysfunction to Washington has resonated with the voters of California. This district has been without leadership for far too long, and the people here need a strong independent voice fighting for them in D.C., especially during these challenging times.”

Smith said in a statement issued by her campaign that she was “extremely grateful for the support our campaign has received from every corner of this district.”

“The outcome of this race remains too early to call,” Smith said. “With so much at stake in this election for families across the district, from access to quality health care to putting the needs of the middle class at the center of future economic relief packages passed in Congress, it is critical that every ballot cast is counted and the voice of every CA-25 voter is heard.”

There were nine vote centers open Tuesday, May 12, seven in Los Angeles County. There were also 22 24-hour drop boxes in Los Angeles County to deposit ballots.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order March 20 requiring that all voters in the district receive a vote-by-mail ballot in an effort to protect public health and safety during the coronavirus outbreak.

Smith was trying to become the second consecutive Democrat to win what had been a seat long held by Republicans until Hill’s 2018 victory over then-Rep. Steve Knight.

Smith finished first in the March 3 primary with 36.2% of the vote while Garcia was second with 25.4%. Knight finished third with 17.2%.

Garcia is a graduate of Saugus High School and the U.S. Naval Academy. He was a Navy fighter pilot during the Iraq War and became an executive with the aerospace firm Raytheon Co.

Garcia announced his candidacy on April 10, 2019, slightly more than two months after Hill took office. He said his experience in the aerospace industry “along with my military credentials makes me uniquely qualified to tackle the national security issues this nation is facing.”

Smith, who will turn 51 on Friday, May 15, was elected to the Assembly in 2018 after serving two terms on the governing board of the Newhall School District. She began her career in public service as analyst with the U.S. Department of Education. She has lived in Santa Clarita for 39 years, graduating from Hart High School, then attending College of the Canyons and receiving a bachelor’s degree from UCLA.

Both candidates had presidential support. President Donald Trump tweeted his endorsement of Garcia April 20, tweeting that he “will be a tremendous fighter for the U.S. and the State of California.”

Former President Barack Obama recorded a robocall on Smith’s behalf.

The 25th Congressional District includes portions of the Antelope Valley and portions of the Santa Clarita Valley, San Fernando Valley, and eastern Ventura County.

The winner of Tuesday’s election will serve out the remaining seven-plus months of Hill’s term. Garcia and Smith will square off again in the November election for the chance to serve a full two-year term.

Hill announced her resignation Oct. 27 and it became effective Nov. 3, following the release of salacious photos online and allegations of an extramarital affair with a staff member.

UPDATE: While Garcia has not claimed victory, President Donald Trump has on his behalf, tweeting Wednesday morning, “Big Congressional win in California for Mike Garcia, taking back a seat from the Democrats. This is the first time in many years that a California Dem seat has flipped back to a Republican.”

UPDATE: Christy Smith has conceded defeat, offering her congratulations to Mike Garcia. 

25 comments for "Republican leads special election to fill Katie Hill’s congressional seat [updated]"

  3. Don’t worry, the liberals will find a big bag of mail in ballots probably in some bathroom in a gas station that will give their liberal lunatic the election at the last minute!

  4. Geeze, most I have heard from “William” in a long time. Must either be worried or really angry a republican won anything. Calm down Bill, I am sure CA will never let this one last long.

  5. Christy Smith, you are not qualified to run for a Congressional seat. Having only served on a school board and Department of Education? Then you messed with a vet!!! You lost many votes taking that odd approach to politics. My wife and I are veterans and as soon as you attacked a fellow veteran the way you did, you lost out BIG TIME! Good luck on your political future.

  6. Nevermind liberal Democrats, she’s still young … she can gobble her way back up the ladder into political stardom!

  7. Is Trump serious, “many years since this California Dem seat been turned republican”, prior to Katie Hill, the only two representatives that ever occupied the 25th district seat were Steve Knight and Buck Mckeon (both republican). And besides, why is Trump even celebrating, Mike Garcia isn’t even going to be in that seat for more than a year. “Big Win for Republican’s “, I guess.

    • UCLA Alumni 2020

      Please. The local Trump supporters buy that stuff. You don’t want to present facts, any facts, to them.

      “I love the uneducated.” Donald J. Trump

      He said that Ron, Dennis, Trumpist#1, et al. He means YOU.

      • Trump loves the “uneducated” because that’s what he is, uneducated. He’s also a lying, homophobic racist and as his wife Ivana said of him, a rapist.

  8. Flipped the district red. Great job, people. Gotta do it all again in November, LOL.

    How many trees did they cut down to print all those mailings?? How many more robocalls will we have to endure??

  9. “filthy cities” You say? Look at Republican controlled Lancaster. Look at the red counties in the Central Valley.

    Look at the red states that are actually welfare states sucking up federal dollars while California and New York subsidize them.

    Go show your ignorance somewhere else Ron.

  10. Mike Garcia is a great American and will make a great representative. It will be great to have someone with an aerospace background representing the 25th district.

    • So what, Dennis?

      Garcia has no record as an elected official. And, he will have no record by November.

      If he dares cross Trump, he’s history. He’ll be a real chicken to say anything critical about Trump. despite his campaign promises.

      So, he’ll just be another GOP potted plant like Steve Knight was and Speaker Pelosi will hardly know he’s there. Remember how much Knight got accomplished? Me neither.

      So there’s that.

      Would you want him do do your brain surgery? He has military experience, y’know.

      Remember Ben Carson now in HUD missing his fancy dining room table that was the first thing on his agenda?

      You guys are hopeless. This poor response to the pandemic and the subsequent economic catastrophe is on you. Own it.

    • Garcia is illegal and has a fake birth certificate just like Obama. My great leader the honorable Donald j trump said it’s true and he never lies

  11. People should be Fed up with the Democrats. They done NOTHING BUT HATE TRUMP!! They fail on the homeless problem care more about illegals, held up the Stimulus bill, wanted to add all kinds of junk that had nothing to do with it. Congress made people wait on their checks. Time to vote them out. Calif starting to look like a dump.

    • Amen, brother!!!!!! What he said times 10. They hate Trump much more than they love our country and would destroy it in a heartbeat to regain power.

    • Ronnie, Ronnie, Democrats are people too. My dad was a democrat and he fought in two wars for your freedom. When he returned home from defending our country, he was told to get his black a## to the back of the bus. Democrats are just as American as you are. We love our country just as much as you do. We just have a difference of opinion on how to solve problems. Unlike the current president, my dad put his life on the line for his country. It’s time to stop all this hate.

      • Democrats are just as American as you are. We love our country just as much as you do.< Were you able to keep a straight face when you typed this lie? Your dad didn't defend me from mierda either..

        • Nope Bla Bla,
          Everything I said was the god’s honest truth. Thanks for showing us who you really are and it ain’t a patriotic American.

  12. Mike Garcia will suck up to Trump who has trashed the generals and has said and done countless things to degrade and insult the military. Garcia needs to apologize for not standing up to Trump.

    He’ll just be a potted plant in the Speaker Pelosi controlled House of Representatives and join Devin Nunes, Kevin McCarthy and Duncan Hunter. Oh, wait. Isn’t the last one in prison?

    One would think that Republicans would support felons being able to vote since they have so many in prison or like Manafort who is gettng out. Then, there’s Flynn.

    Funny how in Democratic majority controlled California, the Republicans elect the worst of the worst to represent the party.

    But, that’s okay. Ignorant people deserve representation too. Is this a great country or what?

    “I love the uneducated.” – Donald J. Trump

    • DEMOCRATS have done nothing but bash Trump. They can’t even clean up their own filthy cities. Starting to look 3rd world. Seen downtown LA lately.

    • Just because someone was promoted to general, doesn’t make them smart or ethical in decision making. I have had to deal with several high level generals in my military and law enforcement career who were corrupted before, during and after military service. Some cost peoples lives!

  13. Christy Smith mocking Mike Garcia’s military service online was not cool; then she had to apologize for her remarks.