LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Incumbents at the federal and state levels came out on top in their primary efforts to represent Lake County in the U.S. Congress and California Assembly.

According to vote tallies posted on the California Secretary of State’s Web site early Wednesday morning, Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield) and Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) led their races for reelection to the Third and Fifth Congressional Districts, respectively.

At 2:30 a.m. Wednesday Secretary of State Debra Bowen’s office reported that 383 of 521 precincts – or 73.5 percent – had been counted in the Fifth Congressional District race, which includes the southern portion of Lake County, as well as Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Contra Costa counties.

At that point Thompson led with 70,945 votes, or 72.4 percent, followed by Republicans Stewart John Cilley, with 10,834 votes or 11.1 percent, and Randy Loftin with 16,177 votes or 16.5 percent.

Garamendi also won his primary race by a strong margin, according to the California Secretary of State’s Office.

Because of redistricting Garamendi is now seeking the Third Congressional District seat, which represents the northern portion of Lake County as well as Colusa, Glenn, Sacramento, Solano, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties.

As of 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, all 452 precincts had been counted, and Garamendi had 52.8 percent of the vote, with 47,258 ballots cast for him.

He was followed by a field of Republican candidates led by Colusa County Supervisor Kim Vann, who received 22,336 votes or 25 percent of the vote; Rick Tubbs, 13,744 votes, 15.4 percent; Tony Carlos, 4,146 votes, 4.6 percent; and Eugene Ray, 1,936 votes, 2.2 percent.

The statewide results in both the congressional races mirrored those in Lake County, where Thompson and Garamendi led their respective fields.

Thompson and Garamendi must win in November to clinch reelection.

Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada (D-Davis), who is moving to the Fourth Assembly District due to redistricting, was leading her race with Republican challenger John Munn of Davis, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.

As of 2:30 a.m. Wednesday 88.9 percent of the precincts – or 384 of 432 – had been counted in the Fourth District Assembly race, with Yamada receiving 38,421 votes, or 60 percent of the ballots cast, to Munn’s 25,610 ballots, or 40 percent.

In Lake County, Yamada led Munn by a more narrow margin, 53.7 percent or 4,757 votes to Munn’s 4,086 votes, or 46.1 percent of the vote.

Munn and Yamada also will continue the race through the November election, at which time the winner will take the Assembly seat.   

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