Uncertainty Surrounds California Senate Race as Absentee Ballots Continue to be Counted

Strategic Insights -

The contentious Senate election between Dianne Feinstein and Michael Huffington remains unresolved, with California's Secretary of State's Office stating that another 600,000 absentee ballots will take at least a week to complete. As of the latest count, Feinstein, the Democratic incumbent, holds a 123,610-vote lead over Huffington, a Republican Congressman from Santa Barbara, out of 7.1 million cast votes. Pollsters have estimated that Huffington's chance of winning relies on capturing about 62 percent of the absentee ballots, with the current count showing 54 percent of absentee votes in his favor.

Key Takeaways:

  • The outcome of the Senate election between Dianne Feinstein and Michael Huffington is uncertain as the count of 600,000 absentee ballots will take at least a week to complete.
  • Feinstein currently leads Huffington by 123,610 votes out of 7.1 million cast votes.
  • Pollsters have suggested that Huffington's chance of winning is dependent on capturing approximately 62 percent of the absentee ballots.
  • As of late Thursday, 54 percent of the absentee votes were cast in favor of Huffington, with Feinstein's campaign expressing optimism about their chances.
  • Neither Feinstein nor Huffington has declared victory, with Feinstein's campaign manager stating that they are working "at the margins" but believe the margin is sufficient to win.
  • Huffington's spokeswoman emphasized that with a large number of votes still uncounted, it would be premature to declare victory or concede defeat.
  • The election has been expected to be a high-turnout event for absentee ballots, with over 20 percent of Californians casting them.
  • A political analyst estimates that Huffington will gain no more than 60,000 votes over Feinstein from the absentee ballots, making a significant upset unlikely at this point.

Statistics:

  • 600,000: The number of absentee ballots still to be counted, which will take at least a week to complete.
  • 7.1 million: The total number of votes cast in the Senate election.
  • 123,610: The current vote lead of Feinstein over Huffington.
  • 54 percent: The percentage of absentee votes currently in favor of Huffington, as of late Thursday.
  • 20 percent: The expected turnout of absentee ballots in California.
  • 60,000: The estimated number of additional votes that Huffington might gain over Feinstein from absentee ballots, according to a political analyst.
  • 62 percent: The percentage of absentee ballots that Huffington would need to capture in order to win the election, according to pollsters.

Sources:

  • Caren Daniels-Meade, Spokeswoman for the California Secretary of State's Office
  • Kam Kuwata, Dianne Feinstein's campaign manager
  • Jennifer Grossman, Michael Huffington's spokeswoman
  • Mervin Field, Political analyst with the Field Poll