Democrat Christy Smith conceded defeat Wednesday to Republican Mike Garcia in the special election to replace Rep. Katie Hill in California’s 25th Congressional District.
Election handicappers such as the Cook Political Report and the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics rated the race as a tossup.
The district, which voted for Democrat Katie Hill by 9 points in 2018, has been trending Democratic in recent years, but Smith hurt herself by disparaging Garcia’s Navy record, which she later apologized for.
President Trump weighed in on the race several times, endorsing Garcia in April and lashing out at California Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday for the placement of an in-person polling place in “a highly Democrat area” —which was actually opened by the Republican mayor of Lancaster, Calif., who endorsed Garcia.
Garcia declared victory Wednesday afternoon, and Smith conceded the race to him shortly thereafter.
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11.26.2024