Democratic Secretary of State Debra Bowen conceded Thursday in the special election in California's 36th District after updated ballot totals showed Republican Craig Huey with an insurmountable lead for the second spot in a July runoff.
Democrat Janice Hahn finished first in balloting and had already secured a place in the July 12 runoff. But after Tuesday's all-party primary between 16 candidates, Huey only led Bowen by 206 votes. After 10,327 additional ballots were counted though, Huey's lead expanded to 750, with only 200 left to count by Friday.
Democrat Janice Hahn finished first in balloting and had already secured a place in the July 12 runoff. But after Tuesday's all-party primary between 16 candidates, Huey only led Bowen by 206 votes. After 10,327 additional ballots were counted though, Huey's lead expanded to 750, with only 200 left to count by Friday.
"Since Tuesday's election, my staff, legal advisors and election experts participated in the ballot review process to ensure a full and fair vote count was conducted. It is clear now that I will not be in the runoff and I congratulate Janice Hahn and Craig Huey," Bowen said in a statement.
According to the updated totals, Huey's vote total now stands at 14,096 (22.24%) to Bowen's 13,346 (21.05%). Hahn, a Los Angeles City councilwoman, took 15,607 votes (24.62%).
Huey, a wealthy businessman who largely self-funded his campaign, surprised political observers after he placed second in a race where coverage centered on two Democrats, Bowen and Hahn. Huey will face long odds, however, in the July contest. The 36th District leans Democratic, and Democratic candidates combined took over 56 percent of the vote on Tuesday. "California's 36th District is staunchly Democratic. President Obama, Governor Brown, Senators Boxer and Feinstein, and Congresswoman Harman each carried this district by significant margins," Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel said in a statement shortly after Bowen's concession. "We are confident that Janice Hahn will succeed Congresswoman Harman and in Janice California's 36th District will have an outstanding advocate in Congress." Updated 7:15 p.m.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2011/05/bowen-concedes-in-ca-36-republican-heads-to-runoff-19
According to the updated totals, Huey's vote total now stands at 14,096 (22.24%) to Bowen's 13,346 (21.05%). Hahn, a Los Angeles City councilwoman, took 15,607 votes (24.62%).
Huey, a wealthy businessman who largely self-funded his campaign, surprised political observers after he placed second in a race where coverage centered on two Democrats, Bowen and Hahn. Huey will face long odds, however, in the July contest. The 36th District leans Democratic, and Democratic candidates combined took over 56 percent of the vote on Tuesday. "California's 36th District is staunchly Democratic. President Obama, Governor Brown, Senators Boxer and Feinstein, and Congresswoman Harman each carried this district by significant margins," Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel said in a statement shortly after Bowen's concession. "We are confident that Janice Hahn will succeed Congresswoman Harman and in Janice California's 36th District will have an outstanding advocate in Congress." Updated 7:15 p.m.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2011/05/bowen-concedes-in-ca-36-republican-heads-to-runoff-19