Republican Kiley captures US House seat

SACRAMENTO (AP) — Republican Kevin Kiley, a state legislator who became a conservative favorite for his pointed and relentless criticism of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, captured a US House seat, Tuesday, in northeastern California.

With 83% of ballots counted, Kiley received nearly 53% of the votes to defeat Democrat Kermit Jones, a doctor and Navy veteran.

The win will pad the margin of Republican control in the House. The GOP seized the majority, last week, when Rep. Mike Garcia was re-elected in the 27th District, which includes much of the Antelope Valley, and gave the party its 218th seat.