AP: Bera Defeats Lungren

Democrat Ami Bera has defeated Republican Rep. Dan Lungren in the close race for California's 7th Congressional District, though Lungren's campaign is not conceding yet, according to multiple reports.

The Associated Press called the race for Bera, a physician making his second congressional run against Lungren, on Thursday night after Sacramento County updated its count of mail ballots and extended Bera's lead to nearly 5,700 votes and over two percentage points. Fewer than 200 votes separated the two opponents on election night, but Bera's lead has grown with each of the three updated tallies as the county added more mailed ballots to the total.

"It will be an honor to serve Sacramento County in Congress," Bera said in a statement Thursday night. "Now is the time to find common ground and move forward to rebuild an economy that works for the middle class. Congressman Lungren deserves our appreciation for his long record of public service."

This race was one of the most expensive in the country, seeing over $8.5 million in independent expenditure spending on both sides, according to Federal Election Commission filings, plus significant spending by both candidates.

There are now four undecided House races in the country, plus the Louisiana runoff between GOP Reps. Charles Boustany and Jeff Landry coming up in December.


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