Mike Garcia Wins With Double Digit Lead

Mike Garcia, the Republican candidate in the special election Tuesday for the California House Seat vacated by ex-Democratic Rep. Katie Hill won the race with more than 60 percent of the vote. Garcia, a former Navy combat pilot who worked for defense contractor Raytheon, defeated state Assemblywoman Christy Smith to win the 25th Congressional District seat. He will have to defend his seat in the November elections.

“Big Congressional win in California for Mike Garcia, taking back a seat from the Democrats,” tweeted President Trump today. “This is the first time in many years that a California Dem seat has flipped back to a Republican.” In fact, that hasn’t happened since 1998.

Garcia, a graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy and the Navy’s flight school, was a F/A-18 pilot who participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Following his service, he joined Raytheon, according to his campaign website, where is was a vice president of business development.

The suburban Los Angeles seat came up for grabs when Hill resigned last year amid allegations of an inappropriate relationship with at least one staffer. The district include Simi Valley, home to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.