Democrats Win 2 Contested California House Contests
Updated 7:53 p.m. | In a boost for California Democrats, Reps. Jim Costa and Ami Bera will return to Congress in January, after The Associated Press called both races Wednesday night.
Costa, a Central Valley-based Democrat, defeated little-known Republican, Johnny Tacherra, by a 1,319-vote margin.
In the Sacramento-based 7th District, Democratic Rep. Ami Bera defeated former Rep. Doug Ose, R-Calif., by 1,432 votes after Sacramento County released another batch of ballots Wednesday.
Their victories serve as welcome news for House Democrats, who lost 12 seats in the midterms — and perhaps one more. The race for Arizona’s 2nd District will proceed to a recount in December.
In a statement released by his campaign, Bera declared victory.
“It’s been my honor serving this community as a doctor for the last nineteen years, and I am grateful I will have the opportunity to continue serving as the representative for California’s 7th Congressional District in Congress,” Bera said.
In Arizona’s 2nd District, Republican Martha McSally leads Democratic Rep. Ron Barber by 161 votes . Races automatically head to a recount in Arizona if the margin is fewer than 200 votes.
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