In a significant turn of events, Democrat George Whitesides has officially defeated Republican incumbent Mike Garcia in California's 27th Congressional District. The election results, reported on November 12, 2024, show Whitesides with a lead of approximately 7,000 votes, prompting Garcia to concede the race [80bec1ea]. This victory is seen as a crucial win for House Democrats, who had targeted Garcia's seat as a prime pickup opportunity [80bec1ea].
Whitesides, a former NASA chief of staff and leader at Virgin Galactic, campaigned on key issues such as protecting reproductive rights and job creation, resonating with voters in the district [80bec1ea]. His win comes despite challenges faced by Democrats in other states, as they aim to regain control of the House through strategic victories in California and New York [80bec1ea].
Previously, on November 8, 2024, Garcia was clinging to a narrow lead over Whitesides, with totals of 127,061 votes (50.19%) to Whitesides' 126,088 votes (49.81%) [8cc65365]. However, as more ballots were counted, Whitesides gained momentum, ultimately leading to his victory [8cc65365].
In related local election news, Republican Suzette Martinez Valladares maintained a strong lead over Kipp Mueller, with over 18,000 votes separating them, while Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo was ahead of Patrick Gipson by nearly 6,000 votes [8cc65365]. The Santa Clarita City Council District 1 race also saw Patsy Ayala leading Tim Burkhart by a slim margin of just 201 votes [8cc65365].