Democrat Josh Harder wins California's 9th Congressional District race, CBS News projects
Democratic Rep. Josh Harder will retain his seat in California's 9th Congressional district, CBS News projects, besting Republican challenger Kevin Lincoln, the mayor of Stockton.
Lincoln had conceded Wednesday night in a statement posted to social media Wednesday night.
"While the results are not what we had hoped for, I remain incredibly proud of the journey we shared and the incredible progress we've made together," Lincoln wrote on X.
Harder released a statement earlier in the week claiming victory, saying in part, "we are confident we've won. I'm incredibly grateful and honored our community put their faith in me once again."
Republicans hoped to wrest control of the district from Harder, 38, who has served in Congress since 2018, when he defeated GOP incumbent Jeff Denham in the midterm elections to represent the 10th Congressional District. A Turlock native, Harder has represented California's 9th Congressional district since 2022's redistricting.
Lincoln, 44, has served as Stockton's mayor since 2020, when he unseated Democrat Michael Tubbs, who was the youngest person to lead the city and its first Black mayor. A Stockton native, Lincoln's previous political experience included an unsuccessful run in 2016 for California Assembly.
California's 9th Congressional district is centered in Stockton and includes most of San Joaquin County. Parts of Contra Costa and Sacramento counties are also currently part of the district, which leans Democratic. More than 43% of registered voters in the district are Democrats, with Republicans comprising about 30% of the electorate, according to data from California's Secretary of State.
Harder carried the district by a 55% to 45% margin in the 2022 election.