LA MESA, Calif. — La Mesa City Councilwoman Dr. Akilah Weber claimed victory in the race for the 79th Assembly District seat.
Weber has 52% of the vote in the five-candidate field with all 269 precincts fully reporting. Marco Contreras, the lone Republican, was second at 33.32%, the only other candidate with more than 10%.
Results were going to be updated through the night periodically here.
If Weber remains at over 50% she will be sworn into the Assembly this month. If no candidate receives a majority in the overwhelmingly Democratic district, a runoff between the top two finishers will be held June 8.
The special election was necessitated by the appointment of Weber's mother Shirley as secretary of state.
The younger Weber is also an obstetrician/gynecologist who leads the Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Division at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego.
Contreras is the owner of Rancho Customs Brokers, which provides custom compliance and consulting services.
Leticia Munguia, the business representative for the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, District 36, which represents government employees across Southern California, was third with 8.16% of the vote, followed by Shane Suzanne Parmely, a teacher at Bell Middle School, with 5.23%.
Aeiramique Glass-Blake, a restorative justice consultant, activist and preacher who works in the juvenile justice field, was fifth with 1.21%.
The district consists of southeastern San Diego, La Mesa, Lemon Grove and parts of Chula Vista, Bonita and National City.
WATCH: Polls open Tuesday for 79th State Assembly District Special Election
