Sacramento- In the January 4th Special Election, Republican Assemblyman Ted Gaines easily defeated Democrat Ken Cooley to fill the State Senate seat that became vacant with the death of Senator Dave Cox.
According the the Special Elections website, Gaines garnered 63% of the vote, while Ken Cooley, the mayor of Rancho Cordova grabbed just 37%. 100% of the precincts have reported.
Gaines Senate win will force his Assembly seat resignation and begin the process of another special election for the newly vacated seat. Gaines states, “These special elections are a financial burden on counties,” said Gaines. “I plan to introduce legislation to allow counties to conduct Special Elections entirely through the mail, eliminating the need to open polling places and find and pay poll workers for every special election.”
Senate District 1, a traditionally conservative stronghold encompasses a large geographical area in Northern California.
“I am humbled and grateful for the overwhelming support I received from the voters in the First Senate District,” said Gaines. “It is an honor to represent the area my family first settled in over 150 years ago, and to do so at such a crucial time in our state’s history.”
