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Andy Vidak wins Central Valley Senate seat

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SACRAMENTO — In a rare bit of good news for the California GOP, the Democratic candidate in a Central Valley legislative race has conceded to her Republican rival.

Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez announced that she had lost to Hanford Republican farmer Andy Vidak in a hard-fought special election for a state Senate seat. Spending in the contest topped $5 million.

“This campaign is over. Andy has earned the right to represent us in Sacramento,” Perez said in a statement Wednesday. “I look forward to him delivering on his promises to create jobs, improve our economy and deliver fresh, reliable water to our farms and families.”

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Perez would have to win more than 80% of the remaining provisional and absentee ballots to overcome Vidak’s 5,800-vote advantage.

Even with the loss of the District 16 seat, last held by Democrat Michael Rubio, the dominant party still holds a two-thirds supermajority in the state Senate.

Rubio resigned abruptly earlier this year to become a government affairs manager for Chevron Corp.

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In another special election Tuesday, Ontario Mayor Paul Leon was the top vote-getter among eight candidates to fill the seat in Assembly District 52. Leon, a former Republican, now without a party registration, will face Democratic Pomona Councilman Freddie Rodriguez in a September runoff. A Democratic win would restore the party’s supermajority in the Assembly.

Although Rodriguez finished second Tuesday, he will be the front-runner for the fall. He and five other Democrats split more than 60% of the vote in this solidly Democratic San Bernardino County district.

The seat came open when Norma Torres (D-Pomona) was elected to the state Senate earlier this year.

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anthony.york@latimes.com

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