From the special election in California’s 50th District, the latest results are Republican Brian Bilbray, with 49.34 percent of the vote, winning over Democrat Francine Busby, with 45.44 percent of the vote. It should be noted that two other candidates, William Griffith, with 3.69 percent of the vote, and Paul King, with 1.53 percent of the vote, took support away from Bilbray, who undoubtedly would have surpassed 50 percent had they not been in the race.
Still, contrary to the hopes of some passionate Democrats, it’s hard to see the race as a bellwether of anything. The Republican won — well, it’s a heavily Republican district. But if the Democrat had won — well, the race was to replace a Republican who is in prison for corruption, with the current GOP candidate weakened by lesser candidates eating away at his support. That wouldn’t have proved much, either.
One last thing. It’s hard to argue that the race stirred passions in the district. Turnout was 34.76 percent.