District 25: The Head-Scratching Race For Katie Hill's Seat

LOS ANGELES, CA — It’s been a wild ride for the people of the 25th Congressional District, one of the most closely watched Congressional races in the country.

Come Super Tuesday a motley field of 13 candidates will vie for the seat vacated last year by Rep. Katie Hill in a special election to complete her term and in a primary for the November general election. The top two vote-getters in Tuesday’s primary will advance to the Nov. 3, 2020, general election. If any of the candidate’s get a majority of the vote in the special election, they’ll fill the remainder of Hill’s term in the meantime. If the top candidate doesn't reach 50% of the vote, than the top two candidates, will face off in a special runoff election on May 12.

Less than six months ago, it seemed unthinkable that Hill, a rising star in the Democratic party, would face a serious challenger. But she quit amid allegations of sexual misconduct with a staffer and vowed to fight for victims of revenge porn after nude photos of her were published by a conservative website.

Now, Stephen Knight, the former Republican Congressman Hill unseated, is fighting for his old job along with the host of an online liberal news show and a Trump aide who has a prison record for lying to federal agents in the Russia investigation. The 25th, flipped in 2018 as part of the 'blue wave' that delivered the House to the Democrats, is now firmly in the sights of Republicans.

The district, which includes the Santa Clarita Valley and portions of the northern San Fernando Valley, Antelope Valley and Ventura County, was long held by Republicans before Hill came along. The best known names in the race on Tuesday include Knight, Cenk Uygur (D) host of the online news show “The Young Turks,” and Assemblywoman Christy Smith (D). She's not to be confused with the other Chris Smith in the race — Christopher Smith (D), who suspended his campaign in January but will still appear on the ballot Tuesday. George Papadopoulos, who pleaded guilty in 2017 to making false statements to the FBI about his contacts with Russian agents on behalf of the Trump campaign, is also in the race.

Christy Smith, who carries Hill’s endorsement, was quick to pounce on his conviction. After he announced his candidacy, she tweeted, “If he pled guilty to lying to the FBI -- how do we know he'll tell us the truth? We deserve someone from our community serving as our voice - not @realDonaldTrump's wannabe political hack!”

The complete list of candidates on Tuesday’s ballot include:

• Robert Cooper (D)
• Getro Elize (D)
• Christopher Smith (D)
• Christy Smith (D)
• Cenk Uygur (D)
• Anibal Valdez-Ortega (D)
• Mike Garcia (R)
• Kenneth Jenks (R)
• Stephen Knight (R)
• David Lozano (R)
• Daniel Mercuri (R)
• George Papadopoulos (R)
• Otis Lee Cooper (I)

Those voting in person Tuesday may find that the old polling places in their neighborhood are no longer available. Find your nearest voting center here.

Voters can also call the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk at 800-815-2666, Option 1, to find their closest polling place.