- Valley View News
Mike Garcia Beats Christy Smith in Close CA-25 Race
PALMDALE, CA – On Nov. 30th Democrat Christy Smith conceded the election to Republican Mike Garcia after a tight race for the 25th Congressional District. Garcia won with a difference of 333 votes.
The Lancaster Republican Party worked all day on Nov. 3 as they waited for the results. The race for District 25 was a rematch between Garcia and Smith.
“We are excited to get Republicans over the finish line. We’re excited to get Tom Lacky, Scott Wilk, Mike Garcia over this hump. Into their congressional seat. Into their assembly seat. Into their senate seat. And we look forward to legislating,” said Lancaster Republican Party Office Manager Jack Danielson.
Garcia became the district’s representative after a special election earlier this year. He won that race with 55 percent of the vote.
Danielson said they had been working to encourage their base to get out to the polls for the general election.
“Higher voter turnout will obviously affect the election, which doesn’t necessarily mean a bad thing. Especially for Republicans. If we run on the right values, we should be able to encourage our voters to get out there,” said Danielson.
Smith thought a higher voter turn would mean the opposite.
“Typically, increased voter turnout in a district like this, where there’s a Democratic registration advantage, means that more Democrats have turned out. And that puts us a slight advantage,” said Smith.
District 25 had Republican representation since 1992 until Democrat Katie Hill won in 2018. Hill later resigned after allegations of an affair with a staffer were spread by the conservative news blog “Red State.” The district flipped back to red.
“I think the blue to red was a fluke in the special. And again, it was that confluence of circumstances. We had moved our state’s primary from June to March, a lot of our voters didn’t realize there was going to be a May special when I won both primaries coming out of March. A lot of people thought it was done and over,” said Smith.
Video, Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce
Video, Bryce Wayne
By Bryce Wayne
With contributions from NBC News
Photo, Bryce Wayne
Video, Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce
Video, Bryce Wayne
EDUCATE YOURSELF
CA-25 candidates talk COVID, federal aid and AB 5
After Six Months in Office, Rep. Mike Garcia Is Running Again for CA-25