Hahn Leads, Huey Possible Upset for Run-off in 36th Congressional District Primary

Republican candidate Craig Huey closed strong Tuesday night to reach a surprise second-place finish in the race for a vacant seat in the 36th Congressional District behind Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn, according to preliminary results.

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen trailed Huey by 206 votes with 261 of 261 precincts reporting at 11:27 p.m.

If the results hold, Hahn and Huey would face each other July 12 in a runoff election.

Huey had been in third place through most of the night as returns trickled in, but overtook Bowen when the last returns were announced.

Huey had raised the most money of any of the 16 candidates, vying for the open seat in Congress with $515,905 raised from the beginning of his campaign according to the latest federal election campaign filing period that ended in early May. Huey loaned his own campaign $500,000 and blanketed the region with campaign signs.