California Republican Assemblyman James Gallagher scored a decisive victory Tuesday in a special election to fill the remainder of the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa’s term, avoiding a runoff and extending GOP control of the seat.
With just over half of the expected vote counted in California’s sprawling 1st Congressional District, Gallagher had captured 62.6% of the vote, comfortably above the 50% threshold needed to win outright. Democratic State Sen. Mike McGuire narrowly edged fellow Democrat Audrey Denney for second place by just 37 votes, with both candidates sitting at 17.9%.
The special election was called following the death of LaMalfa, who had represented the reliably Republican district since 2013. The congressman died Jan. 6 after suffering a heart attack following an aortic dissection. He was 65.
“It’s a mix of emotions,” Gallagher told KRCR-TV after the Associated Press called the race. “Missing Congressman Doug LaMalfa, who is a mentor to me, but also just feeling overwhelmed by the amount of support that we’ve had tonight.”
Gallagher, 45, has represented the rural area north of Sacramento in the California State Assembly since December 2014. His victory sends a familiar conservative voice to Washington from one of the state’s most Republican regions.
The result leaves the House divided between 218 Republicans, 212 Democrats, and one independent, with four seats currently vacant.
In addition to winning the special election, James Gallagher and McGuire also advanced to the Nov. 3 general election to represent the newly redrawn 1st Congressional District, which is considered more competitive for Democrats.
With roughly half the vote counted in that contest, Gallagher led with 47.2%, while McGuire trailed with 37.5%. Denney was running third with 13.4%.
Gallagher’s strong showing in both races gives Republicans an early advantage heading into the fall campaign, though the redrawn district is expected to be more closely contested than the version previously represented by LaMalfa.
The next House vacancy is expected to be decided June 16, when voters will head to the polls in a special election to choose a successor to Rep. Eric Swalwell, who resigned in April after facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.
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