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Republican Wins House Seat in Heavily Democratic California

Associated Press

   LOS ANGELES - Long-suffering California Republicans finally have
   something to celebrate.

   Former Navy fighter pilot Mike Garcia captured an open U.S. House seat
   north of Los Angeles on Wednesday, giving Republicans a rare victory in
   one of the nation's most Democratic states.

   Garcia defeated Democrat Christy Smith in a special election to
   complete the remainder of the term of former Democratic Representative
   Katie Hill, who resigned last year. Garcia's win marked the first time
   in more than two decades that a Republican captured a Democratic-held
   congressional district in California.

   "I'm ready to go to work," Garcia said.

   Smith delivered her congratulations but said she expected the roles to
   be reversed in November, when the two meet in a rematch for the full,
   two-year House term that begins in January.

   "This is only one step in the process," she said in a statement.

   Garcia, a political newcomer, had a 12-point edge over Smith in the
   special election for the swing 25th District, which cuts through
   suburbs and small ranches in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

   Coupled with another GOP special election victory Tuesday in a heavily
   Republican Wisconsin district, Garcia's win would leave Democrats with
   a 233-198 House majority, plus an independent and three vacancies.

   Democrats are heavily favored to retain House control in November's
   elections.

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