We are now getting a better picture of who will be facing who in some Central and South Coast congressional races this November. In the 24th District, Democratic incumbent Salud Carbajal of Santa Barbara will face Republican challenger Andy Caldwell. Carbajal had a strong showing, with 52% of the vote to Caldwell’s 44%.
The 24th District includes all of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, and a small slice of Ventura County.
In Ventura County’s 26th Congressional District, Democratic Congresswoman Julia Brownley is going to be facing Republican challenger Ronda Baldwin-Kennedy. Brownley faced three challengers, including two Democrats, but still came away with 54% of the vote to Baldwin-Kennedy’s 39%
But, the picture remains fuzzy in the 25th Congressional District. This is the district which is mostly in Los Angeles County, but includes a small piece of eastern Ventura County. Two years ago, Democratic challenger Katie Hill defeated Republican incumbent Steve Knight. Then, a scandal last year prompted Hill to resign. 13 candidates entered the wide open race. Democratic Assemblywoman Christy Smith was the top vote getter, with 30% of the vote to earn a spot on the ballot. But, it’s still unclear whether which Republican she will face: Mike Garcia or Steve Knight.
