Harman's Congressional Seat Looks Headed For Runoff

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Southern California congressional election to replace the seat vacated by Democratic Rep. Jane Harman appears headed for a runoff.

With just seven of 261 precincts reporting, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn held a slight lead over California Secretary of State Debra Bowen, both Democrats. Hahn had 24 percent of the vote to 21 percent for Bowen. Craig Huey, a Republican, was third with 18 percent.

With 16 candidates dividing the vote, it's almost a certainty no one will clear the 50 percent threshold needed to claim the 36th Congressional District seat vacated by Harman outright. That means the top two finishers will advance to an expected July 12 runoff.

Harman resigned in February to head the nonpartisan Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.

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