As of Tuesday night, U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, held the lead at 34,476 of the votes for his District 4 seat in Congress, followed by Republican candidate Ray Riehle with 20,098 votes and Eric Jones with 18,734 votes.
Jones’ campaign manager Brian Parvizshahi said of initial returns, “We’re feeling great,” adding that Thompson’s numbers were “damning” for a congressional incumbent.
Thompson was first elected to office in 1999, and has been endorsed by numerous unions and elected officials, along with the California Democratic Party and Rep. Ro Khanna.
Trailing Thompson is Riehle, a Sacramento small business owner and member of the Citrus Heights Water District Board of Directors, who says he is not a “career politician.” Riehle is endorsed by a variety of Republican groups and Sacramento city officials.
Catching up to Riehle is Thompson’s Democratic challenger Jones, a political newcomer who kicked off his campaign last August.
At a lively watch party held by Jones Tuesday night in at Three Mile Brewing in Davis, supporters ate pizza, drank beer and mingled, not keeping a close eye on election results.
“Everything changes with time, and I think [Jones] is changing,” said Bella Moon, a Davis resident and Jones supporter. Moon was concerned that Thompson has held his seat for almost 30 years.
“We need someone who can speak up for the people. We need someone strong enough,” she said, sipping a drink.
Thompson has faced one of his most competitive races since assuming office in 1999 thanks to Jones, a political newcomer who has invested over $5 million into his own campaign. Jones is a former finance professional and nonprofit leader endorsed by left-leaning organization Indivisible Yolo and Our Revolution, also a left-leaning political group.
The race has seen some controversy, including when a canvasser for Jones was investigated for allegedly surveilling Thompson’s home.