Bera gave Lungren a run for his money - literally - by running as an outsider and outraising the three-term congressman. But in a Republican year, in a district that has a three-point GOP registration edge, Bera came up short. Lungren campaign manager Saulo Londono says he knew the congressman would pull off the win because he's always represented his district well.
Londono: "That combined with the fact that today's results all across the country were just a basic repudiation of big government, liberal policies by the Democrats, spells victory."
Bera saw the results differently, saying Lungren should have
done better under the circumstances:
Bera: "I don't think this is a
vote of confidence in Dan Lungren. I think this is a vote
that we want something different."
Democrats had hoped to take Lungren out by making the race one
of their national priorities. Bera said Lungren's days are
"numbered" - and did not rule out running again in two
years.