With 100% of precincts reporting, former San Diego city councilman Carl DeMaio appears to have unseated incumbent Democrat Scott Peters in California’s 52nd congressional district, becoming the first openly gay Republican to win a seat in Congress. However, DeMaio’s lead is less than 600 votes, and the close race may ultimately be decided by absentee and provisional ballots.
The final count may not be completed until Thursday, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
DeMaio faced a barrage of accusations of sexual harassment in the closing days of the race, as well as an effort by traditional marriage groups to support the Democrat strategically in the hope of nominating a more socially Republican candidate in a later election.
The GOP establishment stuck with DeMaio throughout. Vice President Joe Biden campaigned for Peters over the weekend, but Republican turnout may have proved decisive.
Senior Editor-at-Large Joel B. Pollak edits Breitbart California and is the author of the new ebook, Wacko Birds: The Fall (and Rise) of the Tea Party, available for Amazon Kindle.
Follow Joel on Twitter: @joelpollak
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