UPDATE: Not so fast, Vidak has fallen below 50%. More info here.

Republicans gain seat through 2014

by Brian Leubitz

Andy Vidak has won election to SD-16 by carrying over 50% of the vote in the special election yesterday. That’s the bad news for Democrats this morning.

Tuesday night, Vidak’s supporters gathered at his Hanford-Armona farm and cheered him on as the votes came in from all four counties in Senate District 16. This includes all of Kings County, where Vidak lives, and portions of Fresno, Tulare and Kern counties.

Overall, Vidak received nearly 52 percent of the votes. Leticia Perez had nearly 42 percent. (KSFN)

That means the Senate Democratic majority is now at 27, a bare supermajority, but a supermajority nonetheless. But, about that SD-16. It is a very Democratic district. Very Democratic, but a low turnout Democratic district. Special elections can be tough for a district like this. Vidak had a bit of name recognition, and the low turnout helped him across the line.

Now, as for the district going forward into the 2014 election, the district changes substantially. Vidak will have to introduce himself to a new electorate, an electorate that is still a strong Democratic electorate. And in an election where turnout will be substantially higher than a small special election.  So, there is the long-term upside, I suppose.