Updated: Hahn, Bowen, Huey Lead in Tight Race

(Updated 12:46 a.m.): As either Republican Craig Huey or Secretary of State Debra Bowen could face Janice Hahn in the July 12 runoff election for the 36th Congressional District seat, Bowen's campaign manager Dan Chavez has issued the following statement:

"This has been a very spirited campaign and it remains very close. There are 9,811 ballots that still need to be processed—more than enough to make up the difference. We are confident Debra Bowen will be in the runoff," he said. 

Huey received 206 more votes than Bowen, with all 261 precincts counted, according to semi-final election returns released by the county Department of Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's Office—if these preliminary results hold, Huey and Hahn will continue to the July 12 election.

(Updated 12:35 a.m.): At his primary election gathering at Ortega 120 in Redondo Beach, Redondo Beach Mayor Mike Gin said he was "proud" of the campaign he ran, even though it was ultimately unsuccessful.

"I kept the campaign very positive [and] really focused on issues… that I think are really important to many people—not only in this district, but throughout the country," he said. "I'm very grateful that we were able to get a lot of support from outside the party, as well."

Gin, a Republican, ended up with nearly 8 percent of the vote. Democrat Janice Hahn led with nearly 25 percent of the vote, while Republican Craig Huey and Democrat Debra Bowen were neck-and-neck for the No. 2 slot, with 21.87 and 21.48 percent of the vote, respectively.

(Updated 11:45 p.m.): Republican candidate Craig Huey closed strong Tuesday night to reach a surprise second-place finish in the race for a vacant seat in the 36th Congressional District behind Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn, according to preliminary results.

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen trailed Huey by 206 votes with 261 of 261 precincts reporting at 11:27 p.m. If the results hold, Hahn and Huey would face each other July 12 in a runoff election.

Huey had been in third place through most of the night as returns trickled in, but overtook Bowen when the last returns were announced.

Huey had raised the most money of any of the 16 candidates vying for the open seat in Congress with $515,905 raised from the beginning of his campaign through the latest federal election campaign filing period that ended in early May. Huey loaned his own campaign $500,000 and blanketed the region with campaign signs.

(Updated 11:25 p.m.): Two Democrats and a Republican were locked in a tight race late Tuesday night in a race for the vacant seat in the 36th Congressional District. The top two vote-getters among a field of 16 are set to square off July 12 in a runoff election.

At 11:05 p.m. there were 102 of 261 precincts counted, or 39 percent, with Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn as the top vote getter, followed by California Secretary of State Debra Bowen with 21.9 percent and Republican candidate Craig Huey close behind at 20.4 percent.

None of the other 13 candidates had gained 10 percent of the vote.

(Updated 10:55 p.m.): Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn and Secretary of State Debra Bowen, both Democrats, were the top two vote-getters in early returns Tuesday night with Republican candidate Craig Huey trailing in close third, according to preliminary results.

(Updated 9:55 p.m.): Secretary of State Debra Bowen's supporters gathered Tuesday night at the 1321 Downtown Taproom Bistro in Torrance to wait for election returns. 

Bowen was mingling with the crowd, but planned to move to her campaign headquarters a few doors down to monitor election results. Hermosa Beach School Board member Ray Waters was among those in attendance supporting Bowen.

(Updated 9:24 p.m.): About 100 people gathered at the campaign headquarters of Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn at the Rolling Hills Plaza in Torrance, including City Councilman Bill Rosendahl. Hahn has not yet made an appearance.

About 50 people were at an election night party in Venice to view returns with teacher and anti-war activist Marcy Winograd. The scene at Baja Cantina was subdued as supporters awaited returns.

--

Absentee ballots that were mailed in prior to Tuesday's election to fill the vacant 36th Congressional District seat have been counted.

The early leaders are Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn (6,269 votes, 24.4 percent), California Secretary of State Debra Bowen (5,448 votes, 21.2 percent) and Republican candidate Craig Huey (4,650 votes, 18.1 percent).

Redondo Beach Mayor Mike Gin followed with 2,707 absentee votes, 10.6 percent, and school teacher and anti-war activist Marcy Winograd had 2,046 mail-in votes, 8.0 percent.

The polls closed at 8 p.m.

The first returns from the field are expected about 9:30 p.m. Patch will update this article with the latest numbers.