In a neck-and-neck race for the 50th Congressional District, Republican Brian Bilbray has barely pulled ahead with 49.3 percent of the vote, while Democrat Francine Busby trails with 45.5 percent of the vote, as of press time Wednesday, June 7.
Bilbray is geared to return to the Washington ranks, after representing the 53rd Congressional District from 1995 to 2001. He has spent the past years as a lobbyist and working for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), an anti-illegal immigration group.
Saving the Mount Soledad Memorial Cross will be Bilbray’s first priority once in office, he said June 7.
While Republicans dominate the district with 46 percent of the voters, as opposed to 30 percent registered Democrats, Busby claimed a 7 percent lead in a Democrat-conducted poll from May 12 to 15.
In a hotly contested race that was expected to reflect the nation’s faith in the Republican Party, the National Republican Congressional Committee spent $4.5 million on Bilbray’s campaign. A figure for spending by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was not available at press time.
Voter turnout was poor, with only 35 percent of registered voters casting their ballots.
Bilbray replaces former congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham, who was sentenced to eight years in prison for taking more than $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors.
The term will be short, as November elections will open the seat to election once more. In the Republican primary, Bilbray swept the polls with 52 percent of the vote. Eric Roach followed with 14 percent and Bill Hauf with 13 percent. Busby won the Democrat primary with 90 percent to Chris Young’s 10 percent.
The 50th Congressional District extends from Carlsbad to La Jolla, but only includes parts of La Jolla and University City.