Garamendi gains the upper hand

Incumbent U.S. Rep. John Garamendi, Democrat from Fairfield, took about a 10-point lead over challenger Charlie Schaupp, Republican, Tuesday night in the race for California’s 3rd Congressional District.

While Schaupp led Garamendi by 10 or more points in Yuba, Sutter and Colusa counties, it was the reverse throughout the rest of the district.

“If I lose, I put my pack right back on and fight/work within the CRP to get it back to Republican ‘Basics’... so future candidates can win,” Schaup said.

Garamendi said that it’s been a satisfying election.

“I’m really excited and anticipate being in a much more powerful position to protect our district,” he said.

Garamendi said he believes the 3rd District may be second on the list in the United States for flood risk, behind New Orleans.

“We’ve got a long way to go to protect my district,” Garamendi said. “With this election and Democrats taking back the House, it put me in a position to protect the people I represent.”

He said across the nation, this election was a call for decency.

“American people are really working for decency and to solve problems and not get into nasty fights,” he said. “They are really looking for fairness – to treat each other with respect, even with different views.”

At the time of this report Garamendi led Schaupp 55.9 to 44.1 percent, district-wide.

– Randi Love Jim and Jan Chansler of Yuba City sit at a table, voting together, at Yuba City's Veterans Hall. Jim Chansler reads to his wife due to issues with her eyesight. “I feel it’s our way of saying our mind and I don’t want to give that up,” Jan Chansler said. “We encourage our children to vote – we don’t tell them how to vote but tell them it’s their right.” She has some difficulty seeing, so Jim helps by reading the ballot information. “It’s different now with her eyesight, but I’ve been helping her for a while,” he said. “She’s the brains and I’m the eyes.”

vote. You can’t complain if you don’t vote,” Saunders said.

– Jake Abbott