One of the most closely watched races in San Diego County is in the East County's 50th Congressional District, where a seat is left vacant after disgraced former Congressmember Duncan D. Hunter resigned in light of a corruption scandal.
That's because the long-standing red district could flip if Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar secures enough of the votes against long-time Republican congressman Darrell Issa.
Issa had predicted a "decisive victory" on Election Night but that didn't seem to be the case. When the polls closed, Campa-Najjar held a lead of just thousands of votes over Issa. But as more tallies were released throughout the night, the margin slimmed -- at one point to less than 100 votes.
Issa expanded his lead just after midnight.
As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, he continued to lead by about 10,400 votes, according to the latest tallies from the San Diego Registrar of Voters.
Here's where the race stands now:
The 50th District — which covers much of San Diego’s East County and extends north into Temecula — has sat vacant for nearly 10 months.
Campa-Najjar, a 31-year-old businessman and former Labor Department staffer, is aiming to flip the long-time red district. The Latino-Arab candidate was born in East County and has touted it throughout the race, telling voters he is a "son of the East County" and their neighbor.
He came closer than many thought to flipping the district against Hunter in 2016 and this election may come down to swing voters.
Campa-Najjar said on Election Day that he hopes voters turnout and give him a chance to serve them.
"It's about the future, not the past," Campa-Najjar told NBC 7. "I’m going to be a congressman for everyone. My message has been country over party since day one, people over politics. We’re going to fight to lower taxes for California families and small businesses.”
Campa-Najjar said the voters he has spoken to on the campaign trail want a “disrupter” to fill this seat, not a “career politician” like his opponent.
“They want change in whatever form it comes,” the candidate told NBC 7.
Issa, on the other hand, said this race is all about experience.
“This has been a race between experience and someone who doesn’t fit the historic 50th trying to say that he’s changed to fit it," Issa told NBC 7 on Election Day. "I’m a predictable conservative. I not only fit the district – I’ve represented most of it for a very long time. People know that I say what I believe and I will do what I say."
“We’re feeling great,” he said Tuesday afternoon, hours before the polls were set to close in San Diego County. “The voters have really responded; our message of experience that you just can’t get any other way has resonated."
Issa represented the North County's District 49 for decades before leaving ahead of the 2020 election at a promised Trump Administration position that stalled.
He said he’s grateful for the support he’s gotten on the campaign trail.
“One of the things that happens when you’re coming back into politics, is you find out who really believe in you," Issa said. "This has been a great 14 months of learning."
Issa spent Election Night at a watch party at a hotel in Mission Valley. Campa-Najjar spent the evening at home with family and friends, watching the results trickle in.
Although the race between the two candidates has been hotly contested, Campa-Najjar said he shares a sense of comradery with Issa. He said they regularly talk and text. Campa-Najjar said that he planned to lean on Issa for advice should he head to D.C.
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November 04, 2020 at 09:23PM
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50th District Race Between Campa-Najjar, Issa Close - NBC San Diego
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