Bay Area Voters Decide Special Election Winner to Replace Resigned Congressman

Voters in California's 14th Congressional District went to the polls Tuesday to choose a replacement for the representative who resigned in April. The special primary covers the remainder of the term through January. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two finishers will advance to an August runoff.

The district includes East Bay cities such as Fremont, Hayward and Livermore. It has favored Democratic candidates by wide margins in recent elections. The seat became vacant after the incumbent resigned amid sexual assault allegations first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Additional reports later described accusations from other women involving inappropriate messages and photos. The former representative has denied the allegations.

Eleven candidates appeared on the Tuesday ballot.

Among the Democrats were a state senator who campaigned on reducing housing costs and a transit agency director who previously served as mayor of an East Bay city. Republican candidates included a real estate investor and the operator of a small flower business.

A separate primary held June 2 for the full term beginning in January produced the same top two Democratic finishers, who will face each other in November.

Tuesday's special primary will serve the remaining months of the current term. Candidates who also advanced from the June 2 primary hope the brief period in office will provide added visibility ahead of the November general election. >"Voters in the San Francisco Bay Area congressional district formerly represented by Democratic Rep.