Former Navy Fighter Pilot Mike Garcia Holds 159 Vote Lead in California House Election Rematch

In a May special election held in California’s 25th district, Republican Mike Garcia beat out Democrat Christy Smith for former disaffected Rep. Katie Hill’s (D) Seat.

The two are now engaged in a tight rematch with Garcia ahead by only 159 votes after additional ballot counts were released Tuesday, according to the California Secretary of State.

Hill vacated the seat last year after it was revealed she was in a “thrupple,” “allegedly” sleeping with another member of her staff, and lewd pictures of the former congresswoman were also released by the media.

Garcia is a highly decorated United States Naval Officer whose record-setting flying performance earned him the honor of becoming one of the first Super Hornet strike fighter pilots in the Navy.

He also flew over 30 combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom in the skies above Baghdad, Fallujah, and Tikrit, according to his campaign page.

The race to fill the seat has been like a seesaw over the past week and, after falling shortly behind Monday, Garcia regained the lead. It is unclear exactly how many ballots are left to be counted.

Like President Trump, Garcia has billed himself as “not a career politician.” He said he is “committed to lowering taxes and growing CA jobs because our families & small businesses cannot afford the same liberal Sacramento policies in Washington.”

I'm not a career politician. I'm a fighter pilot & patriot who knows what it's like to raise a family here in #CA25. I am committed to lowering taxes and growing CA jobs because our families & small businesses cannot afford the same liberal Sacramento policies in Washington. pic.twitter.com/L6DLndwRmg

— Mike Garcia (@MikeGarcia2020) November 2, 2020