Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA) has won reelection to a second full term, defeating a challenge from Democratic former state Assemblywoman Christy Smith in California’s 27th Congressional District.
The race was called Wednesday night as Republicans earned 218 seats to retake the House majority.
The contest was a rematch after the two went head to head in 2020. Garcia, who represents the state’s 25th District, won his first full term by only 333 votes.
Garcia maintained a strong fundraising lead throughout the race this cycle.
The incumbent Republican was first elected in a 2020 special election following Democratic Rep. Katie Hill’s resignation. Garcia is the son of Mexican immigrants and an Air Force veteran. He had nearly double Smith’s cash on hand, with over $1.2 million, according to Oct. 19 Federal Election Commission filings — compared to her $625,000.
Abortion was the most contentious issue in the swing district following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in June. Garcia co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act, which would ban most abortions nationwide, and signed an amicus brief urging the court to overturn Roe. After the decision came down, he urged his constituents to make their stances known in Sacramento, as the decision now belongs to the states.
Smith touted her support for abortion rights and said she would work to codify access for women.
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“As a woman who is a high-risk, near-death first pregnancy survivor, and had a complicated decision to carry a second pregnancy to term, I have been a stalwart advocate for greater access to services in my community and will continue to defend a woman’s right to unfettered access to safe, legal abortion services, including now codifying abortion rights into law,” she said.
The race was rated a Republican toss-up by the Cook Political Report heading into Election Day.
