Free Republic

California Democrat Christy Smith conceded to GOP Congressman Mike Garcia for the second-time on Monday night, after the contentious congressional race’s result became clear. Smith and Garcia previously competed in a special election last spring, to fill the seat vacated by disgraced former Congresswoman Katie Hill, who resigned in light of a sex scandal. Garcia upset Smith to flip the seat from blue-to-red ahead of the general election. An official call from the Associated Press has not yet been made in California’s 25th congressional district, but Smith told supporters that her path to victory is no longer viable.

Garcia had no political experience but beat out Democratic California assemblywoman Christy Smith, who had Democratic Party support and an endorsement from former President Barack Obama. . . . “So yeah it really hurt to have my old seat flip back to Republican-for a ton of people & also for me,” Hill tweeted Sunday. “In fact, it was pretty ******* devastating. I went offline & cried for a few days but, as always, getting ready to stand back up & keep fighting. Hope you are too.” “Onward,” the former congresswoman added with a heart emoji.