Harman, Horn Hold On to Leads in Close House Races

Democrat Jane Harman and Republican Rep. Steve Horn held on to their leads Tuesday in Southern California’s two closest House races, as the Los Angeles County registrar-recorder updated a near-final vote count.

In South Bay’s 36th District, Harman picked up 2,877 votes, bringing her total to 111,981. Her opponent, incumbent Rep. Steven T. Kuykendall (R-Rancho Palos Verdes), gained 3,002 votes, bringing his total to 108,186. With Harman at 48.3% and Kuykendall at 46.7%, the additional votes did not change the percentages each candidate has received.

Harman held the Venice-to-San Pedro district seat for three terms before giving it up to run for governor in 1998.

In the 38th District, which includes Long Beach, Downey, Lakewood and Bellflower, Horn widened his lead over nurse practitioner and attorney Gerrie Schipske, his Democratic challenger. He picked up 2,357 votes, bringing his total to 85,379, or 48.6%. Schipske picked up 1,976, to a total of 47.3% of the vote.

Registrar officials said there are 5,000 to 7,000 absentee ballots to be counted and 80,000 provisional ballots left to be checked in the entire county, but they did not have that broken down by congressional districts. Representatives of the office said they hope to finish the final count by Friday.

Harman campaign consultant Roy Behr said based on historical trends, the 36th District will represent 10% to 12% of the remaining absentee ballots, and that only half of the provisional votes will be valid.

“It’s rapidly getting to the point that Steve Kuykendall would have to win 90% of the [remaining] vote in order to win, and that’s not going to happen,” Behr said.

“This race is over and has been since last Tuesday,” he said.

Representatives of the Horn campaign were more guarded. “Given the number of ballots that remain out there, it would be foolish for us to be celebrating so soon. We’re pleased that in the two updates we’ve gained votes, hope it will continue, but as we’ve seen in Florida, it’s not over till they certify it,” said Steve Horn Jr.

Kuykendall and Schipske did not make any public statements.