Updated at 12:55 a.m. June 4, 2014
Rep. Scott Peters and Republican challenger Carl DeMaio will square off in a November general election for Congress that should draw national attention.
Peters held a six- to seven-point lead over DeMaio throughout election night. Both are former members of the San Diego City Council. With 99.5 percent of precincts counted, Peters led DeMaio 42.2 percent to 35.9.
- For complete coverage of San Diego County races, see our Elections at a Glance.
Businessman Kirk Jorgensen and surgeon Dr. Fred Simon Jr., other Republicans, were a distant third and fourth at 17.9 percent and 4 percent.
Peters ousted former GOP Rep. Brian Bilbray in a close race two years ago and has tried to craft a bipartisan image. DeMaio, who The Washington Post recently included in a list of the top 40 U.S. leaders under 40 years old, has taken on the persona of a “new generation Republican” who is willing to fight for reforms.
“He’s absolutely trying to reinvent himself,” Peters told KUSI about this fall’s opponent. “He’s been very persistent, but he’s got a four-year record (on the City Council) we should talk about.”
DeMaio told supporters that the primary victory was about returning the Republican party back to its roots of standing up for personal freedoms “where we allow individuals to decide social issues in the context of their own personal views on faith and family without interference from their government.”
Peters said DeMaio would seek out the Tea Party for support, but DeMaio said San Diegans need to reject “the extremes on both sides of the political spectrum.”
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista; Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, R-Alpine; freshman Rep. Juan Vargas, D-San Diego; and Rep. Susan Davis, D-San Diego, all held commanding leads against their challengers. Each will advance to the general election in November against the second-place finisher in their districts.
— City News Service
