With a key Los Angeles-area race tipping the scales, Republicans won control of the U.S. House on Wednesday, Nov. 16, after The Associated Press declared Rep. Mike Garcia the winner of the pivotal 27th Congressional District, securing the party the requisite 218th seat for the majority in the chamber.
Los Angeles County’s release of thousands of votes in the race allowed the AP to determine that not enough votes were outstanding for Democratic challenger Christy Smith to rally back and overtake Garcia.
It took more than a week after the Nov. 8 midterm elections for Republicans to reach the minimum 218 seats needed to flip the House from Democratic control for the next Congress. The full scope of the party’s majority may not be clear for several more days — or weeks — as votes in competitive races are still being counted.
Garcia, the Republican incumbent in the newly configured district, defeated longtime foe Smith for the second time in a row after declaring victory on Nov. 8 in the race for the 27th Congressional District seat that encompasses Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster and Granada Hills.
“The people of CA-27 have spoken, and I’m honored to be reelected to serve another two years in Congress,” Garcia said in a statement.
“To my family, my team, the voters, and the volunteers who supported our campaign, I am humbled by your efforts that led to this massive victory, and I look forward to continuing to fight for you.”
Garcia won 54.19% of the vote as of Wednesday to Smith’s 45.81%. He had 89,550 votes to Smith’s 75,704.
He was first elected to Congress in 2020, winning a special election with 55% of the vote. He lives in Santa Clarita with his wife and two sons.
This is the third time Garcia and Smith have sparred for the seat representing a northern section of the San Fernando Valley and the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys.
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This district is the sole Republican-held congressional seat in L.A. County and a nail-biter that has attracted national attention because it had the potential to play a role in altering the current Democratic edge in the House, according to politicos.
Garcia and Smith aren’t strangers to each other.
Along the campaign trail, Garcia embraced conservative policies he has pursued since elected. He contrasts with Smith, who was viewed as a moderate Democrat when she served in the California state Assembly.
In the June 2022 primary Garcia had a razor-sharp lead over Smith, just 333 votes and the third-closest outcome of any congressional race in the country this year.
Correspondent Marianne Love, The Associated Press contribued to this report