Huffman Leads Crowded Field In North Coast Congressional Race
MARIN COUNTY (CBS SF) -- Early returns showed Democratic Assemblyman Jared Huffman leading the field of 12 candidates competing for a U.S. congressional seat encompassing much of the Northern California coast.
As of 10:40 p.m., Huffman had garnered 38 percent of the vote, with 154 of 732 precincts reporting. Republican Dan Roberts was in second place, with about 16 percent of the vote.
Norman Solomon, a West Marin activist and Democrat who analysts had predicted would come in second, was in third place, with about 13 percent of the vote.
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The top two finishers, regardless of party, will compete in the November general election, thanks to the state's new primary election system.
The seat up for grabs is being vacated Democratic Rep. Lynn Woolsey, who is retiring after 20 years in Congress.
The newly redrawn district runs along the Pacific Coast north of San Francisco, stretching from Marin County to the Oregon border. It includes only part of Sonoma County.
Also competing in the race are Democrats Susan Adams, Stacey Lawson, Tiffany Renee, William Courtney, Larry Fritzlan and Andy Caffrey; Republican Mike Halliwell; and unaffiliated candidates Brooke Clarke and John Lewallen.
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