The vote count in California's 25th District (Los Angeles-Ventura Counties) was finalized Monday night, with Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., beating Democrat Assemblywoman Christy Smith by 333 votes.
With Smith conceding defeat, the results of her contest with the conservative Garcia were essentially a repeat of the special election in the district six month ago.
That contest was called for following the resignation of Rep. Katie Hill, D-Calif., after release of salacious photos and rumors of an extramarital affair with a staffer.
In that race, Garcia, a graduate of Annapolis and former U.S. Navy fighter pilot, beat one-term Assemblywoman Smith by a comfortable 55% to 45%.
"I don't want my country to become what California's become, and I do believe that, especially in California, we don't have to hit rock bottom," said Garcia, the first Hispanic Republican U.S. Representative from the Golden State since Romualdo Pacheco in 1883.
For her part, Smith conceded defeat but hinted strongly she would be facing Garcia a third time in 2022.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
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