California Lt. Gov. John Garamendi has easily won Rep. Ellen Tauscher's seat in Congress. It became available when Tauscher took a new job offer from President Barack Obama as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs.
The win keeps the heavily Democratic East Bay district in Democratic hands. Democrats have an 18-point edge over Republicans in the 10th Congressional District.
He easily defeated Republican David Harmer, a 47-year-old attorney.
Garamendi is expected to fly to Washington, D.C. immediately. His spokeswoman said he will be sworn into office on Thursday morning on the House floor. He is expected to resign a Lieutenant Governor just before that happens.
Garamendi served more than three decades as a state lawmaker and state insurance commissioner before he was elected lieutenant governor.
He said throughout the campaign that he will support the Obama administration in its effort to repair the economy and reform health care. It looks like he'll have an early opportunity to keep that promise. His first duty as a Congressman could be just hours after his swearing in as the House readies takes a vote on the new health care reform bill.
Garamendi's victory on Tuesday was all but certain after he won the September primary election.
