KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
As Election Day nears, candidates for the 25th Congressional District are preparing for the final hours before the special election.
Assemblywoman Christy Smith, D-Santa Clarita, and Republican candidate and Navy veteran Mike Garcia are set to face off once again Tuesday for the remaining duration of former Rep. Katie Hill’s seat in Congress.
This is the first election in California amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to social distancing requirements, California Governor Gavin Newsom called for all registered voters in CA-25 to receive mail-in ballots.
Smith and Garcia were the top two vote earners in the primary back in March, for both the special election and the next full term for 25th District from 2021-2023.
In the crowded “jungle primary” race for the special election, Smith earned 36.2 percent of the vote, with Garcia garnering 25.4 percent, according to the California Secretary of State’s Office.
12 candidates split the primary vote, with the total of votes between Democrat and Republican candidates almost even — about 51 percent to 49 percent.
The winner of the May 12 runoff is set to take over the remainder of Hill’s seat, due to the former Congresswoman resigning amid allegations of misconduct with campaign staffers and an ethics investigation.
The special election has attracted nationwide attention on both sides of the aisle after Hill flipped a longtime GOP seat in the House in 2018.
President Donald Trump endorsed Garcia, asking his Twitter followers to donate to the candidate’s campaign, later claiming “CA-25 is a rigged election” due to the late addition of a polling place in Lancaster.
“I am humbled to have the support of President Trump,” Garcia said at the time. “I am a first-generation American, a father, husband, businessman and former Navy fighter pilot, so I understand the challenges Southern California and America are facing. I am running to keep this nation safe, lower taxes, grow jobs and protect the Constitution.”
Two weeks later, former President Barack Obama endorsed Smith, adding “Now, more than ever, we need pragmatic, experienced and effective leaders in Washington.”
“I am incredibly honored to receive President Barack Obama’s endorsement,” Smith said in a statement. “My campaign has drawn inspiration from the President’s run for the White House as I strive to uplift families in the 25th District, fighting for greater access to affordable healthcare and to ensure the needs of everyday families come first. I’m tremendously grateful for his support.”
The election is now rated as an “even toss-up” by The Cook Political Report, an independent, non-partisan newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, governors and president as well as American political trends.
CA-25 was previously listed in the report as “lean Democratic,” based on a voter registration advantage, but Cook is now saying the race is too close to call due to “uncertainty” amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
Coronavirus is one of the largest issues in the race, with both candidates holding virtual town halls to reach the voters while practicing social distancing.
The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted a virtual forum last month asking the CA-25 hopefuls, in part, how they would respond to the pandemic if elected.
Smith called for transparency of the $2.4 trillion relief fund passed as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
“I want to ensure that there remains full transparency in that process, that those dollars go to the grassroots level, to Main Street businesses as intended, as well as those other mid-sized businesses that are going to need protection,” Smith said in the forum.
When asked the same question regarding CARES Act funding, Garcia called for both parties to work together during the pandemic.
“What we need to really start looking at is driving the unemployment line down so that people are going back to work as soon as they can in a safe fashion but in a way that we’re still mitigating the risks,” Garcia said. “But we need to lower taxes, we need less red tape and we need to stop the partisan bickering.”
Millions of dollars are being pumped into the district from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).
Hill has also made a re-entry into CA-25 with the launch of her political action committee, HER Time, just weeks before the special election, pouring $200,000 into an ad campaign encouraging supporters to vote in the special election.
When reached for comment in the final hours before Election Day, the campaigns had their final messages to voters.
“The outpouring of support for our campaign during this challenging time has been heartening. As always, I stand with this community in facing this challenge head-on,” Smith said in a statement.
A spokesperson for Garcia, Lance Trover, wanted to outline the differences between the candidates to those about to cast a ballot in the special election.
“The differences between Mike Garcia and Christy Smith couldn’t be more clear – Mike is a former Navy fighter pilot and small businessman who wants to lower taxes,” Trover said.
In the district, each of the 425,000 registered voters were sent a ballot with return postage paid. CA-25 residents are able to vote-by-mail or in-person at voting centers across the district.
To find an in-person polling location visit here or a secured ballot drop-off site here.
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Let’s see…hmmm…Christy Smith calling for boycotts against local businesses in the Santa Clarita Valley, or Mr. Garcia who has validated my opinion as to how he will be receptive to the concerns facing the small business community….
Not mentioned in the byline, but Christy Smith’s slap in the face toward Mr. Garcia in regard to his military service. I’d like to take a picture of Christy Smith tomorrow when she sees the election results and stands in her picture with the winning results from Mr. Garcia’s successful campaign.
Even with the “fake” vote center set-up in Lancaster to “harvest” last minute votes from democrat-leaning last minute voters, Mr. Garcia will offset with gains from the Santa Clarita and Simi Valleys, along with gains along the Agua Dulce/Acton areas, and those in the Palmdale/Lancaster area who are pro-military/pro-defense.
I also believe that Christy Smith is sore over something that happened many years ago when then representative Buck McKeon nominated Mr. Garcia for his application to the US Naval Academy. Gee, a local Santa Clarita boy goes on to do good things, and now wants to represent his hometown and the surrounding areas of the district?
Christy Smith served in Washington, D.C…..what did she learn? Christy Smith learned how to raise taxes, get in bed with the teachers union (or any union) and stand behind a measure on the November ballot to remove/reduce Proposition 13 voter-approved tax abatement/savings for property owners!
Can somebody hand a roll of toilet paper to Christy Smith as she wipes her fake tears over receiving the “blessing” from King Barack Obama….unbelievable
As I write this, Mr. Garcia’s win looks favorable. Unfortunately, November is going to be another matter as the democrats and their left-leaning PAC’s are going to throw a ton of money into the district – just like they did to elect no-pants Katie Hill.
Really Katie Hill? You had to waste PAC money on a video that scares kids with a black mask?
Surprised that Secret Service and/or D.C. police didn’t arrest her for being suspicious.
I guess it’s better than seeing someone with no pants and a bong…oh wait…that was “incense”…lol
SO_CAL_RETAIL_SLUT
Mr. Garcia wants to further slash Federal taxes? What’s with the GOP and debt?
I voted two weeks ago.
Retail Slut. Wow. Lots of hot air.
No No !!! Those were facts. Not hot air
Does Mike plan to forgo his salary paid by the taxpayers if he is elected? Curious.
Look up in the sky.
It’s a bird.
It’s a plane.
It’s just what we needed.
It’s Mike Garcia in his fighter jet cleaning up the homeless!
There he goes down Lyons Blam Blam Blam!
Here he comes up the Santa Clara River bed Blam Blam Blam!
Now he’s strafing Soledad Bllam Blam Blam!
No, we need a leader- not another Trump sycophant.
I’ve checked for his plans and could find only slogans.
We need a thinking leader, not a loyal order taker.
Sounds like someone is a little overly concerned with Katie Hill’s body.
She got embarrassed and laughed out of politics! Give it up Jen, even many Democratic leaders just want her to go away, she’s done.
Vote Mike Gracia!!
She’s done so why keep bringing her up? I didn’t defend her. Move on Richard.
BREAKING NEWS-
To all you dead horse beaters: Katie Hill is not running in this election.
No but she’s got a look alike stand in and it’s not by coincidence. Did I bring her up first or did someone else??
One thing I know bullies love to do is make up disqusting nicknames to describe people with more intelligence and class than they themselves possess. This is something that President Trump loves to do. Mike’s buddy who says it’s okay to grab women by their privates. To all the bullies out there don’t forget, “Be Best.”
Oh don’t be a bully!! Boo hoo!! That was in the first part of the pussofication of America movement that continues today!! Then they started handing out “participation trophies”, then everything MUST BE PC or you’re hung from the trees of Social Mediaville!…etc!!!!
The world has gone soft. By the way, Uncle Joe is the other choice and WE ALL KNOW he has his own many well documented issues with the ladies!! He does like to touch, massage and smell that hair and that’s in public Uncle Joe, can’t hide from those cameras Uncle, there everywhere, you should know…..I could imagine my man behind closed doors, when no one is watching.
Don’t throw stones from a glass house is the old saying I believe….
There’s another saying. You might have heard it. Two wrongs don’t make right. Oh and here is another one. Someone who doesn’t know is less stupid than someone who wrongly thinks he does. I am sorry I bring out the worst in Richard and I appear to be a spring board for the same old deflections. I’m not crying about it as I am enjoying being heard.
I’m hearing you Jen. We have a few immature hotshot Trump groupies here unaware of the real issues confronting our nation. To them it’s like team sports; red team vs blue team. Having flown across the country many times I can assure you it is not red and blue, it’s all earthtone and we all share it.
Denny, Thanks for hearing me. I agree with your take. Hate is not necessarily the majority. It’s just louder with it’s aggressive tones. There is a lot of fear behind anger. I feel like calmer heads preval. Even if Mike wins it won’t discourage me from casting my votes. Keep the faith and God bless America. Have a good evening. It’s been interesting today. I am glad we have a place to express opinions.
VICTORY!!!!
Better luck in November Jen and Denny! This has been a red region in California for MANY, MANY years, glad it’s back after a brief but entertaining hiatus!
Election results are not based on luck. Thanks for the good wishes anyway. Kind of you. Have a good day.
More nicknames. It’s ok I forgive you Marco. If you don’t hear from me for awhile don’t take it personally it’s just that I have a life. Take care. Try to get some sunshine. Good day. Bless your heart.
Jen and Denny,
You both are clear-thinking, reasonable people. Thank you for voicing your opinions in a respectful manner.
Anne thank you for your words. I was a little regretful about my ” I have a life “comment. I want people to have room to share their opinions and that was not meant to be directed at the contributors who do that in a respectful way. It was a lapse in judgement and for that I would like to apologise. I had not been back to read comments but was sharing this feed with a friend and I saw your kind words. I don’t want to sink to the level of hostility that I have witnessed by some who have made insulting statements. Thanks again.