McKeon said he was honored to have the opportunity to continue representing the 25th District of California, which includes the Santa Clarita Valley, Simi Valley, Palmdale and parts of Lancaster.
“I look forward to tackling the tough issues facing our communities and our nation, and working to make the voters of the 25th District proud,” McKeon said in a statement. “Elections remind us of the common stake we as neighbors and Americans have in our future and the great possibilities that democracy provides us.”
“Now, more than ever, we must come together to find real, common-sense solutions to our problems,” McKeon continued. “I am committed to fighting for the 25th District with principled dedication to our great American values.”
Rogers conceded gracefully to McKeon Wednesday, saying that he hopes McKeon’s bill fighting the Cemex mine succeeds and asking for unity.
“I congratulate Congressman McKeon on his win,” Rogers said in a statement.”How you lose probably says more about an individual than how you win.”
“Right now, I ask everyone to come together and support Congressman McKeon to pass the Cemex legislation, reverse the sequestration cuts for both defense and non-defense spending, and finally control the ballooning federal budget deficit,” Rogers continued.
Republican Scott Wilk, who formerly served as McKeon’s district director, also claimed victory Wednesday when he received 56.9 percent of the vote to win the 38th Assembly District over Democrat Edward Headington. The district includes most of the Santa Clarita Valley and Simi Valley.
Wilk, a small business owner and Board of Trustee with the College of the Canyons, will replace Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, who is being termed out this year.
“From the earliest days of this campaign I told you that because of my experience when I was elected I would be ready from day one,” Wilk said in a statement to supporters. “I’ll be officially sworn in as your next Assemblyman at high noon on Monday, December 3rd, but I’ve already begun the hard work necessary to bring California back.
“During the campaign I promised to advocate for better schools, improve the business climate so we can create jobs and reprioritize the state’s spending, Wilk continued. “I know that the Legislature faces more than a budget deficit. It has a trust deficit. We can and we will change that. Now it falls to me to fulfill those promises. I will make one more promise to you: no one will work harder than I will to make California golden again.”
Headington gracefully conceded defeat Wednesday as well, congratulating Wilk on his victory.
“I congratulate Scott Wilk on his victory. He ran strong campaigns in both the primary and general elections, and has earned my respect,” Headington said in a statement. “While Scott and I share common ground on some issues and have policy differences on others, we share a commitment to getting California back on track. There is a Democratic supermajority in both houses of the legislature to contend with now but I wish him every success in reaching across the aisle to find solutions on jobs, education and public safety.”
The only Democrat to claim a local victory in the Santa Clarita Valley was State Sen. Fran Pavley of the 27th Senate District, which was newly redrawn to include the west side of the Santa Clarita Valley, as well as Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley and Calabasas.
“As of this morning, I am ahead 52.6 percent to 47.4 percent,” Pavley said in a message to supporters Wednesday afternoon. “Thank you to my many volunteers who devoted so much time to this race. You are the best.”
Current Assemblyman Steve Knight (R-36) gathered 58.5 percent of the vote in the 21st Senate District over Democrat Star Moffatt, who had 41.5 percent of the vote. The 21st Senate District includes most of the Santa Clarita Valley, Antelope Valley and extends to Victorville and other parts of San Bernardino County.
Knight, a Palmdale resident, was first elected to the Assembly in 2008 and is currently vice chair on the Natural Resources and Public Safety Committees.
As of Wednesday afternoon, it appeared that Knight would be replaced by another Republican from the Antelope Valley – Ron Smith – although Smith led by only about two percentage points. Smith had 51.01 percent of the vote, while Democrat Steve Fox had 48.99 percent of the vote.
The 36th Assembly District includes the northern part of the Santa Clarita Valley and the Antelope Valley.
Although all precincts in the county and state had reported in by Wednesday morning, a number of absentee votes and provisional votes placed Tuesday still have to be counted. The County of Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder has until December 7 to send in official ballot results, according to the Secretary of State.