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Democrat Kamala Harris Elected in California’s Open Senate Race

Incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer did not seek re-election

California's Kamala Harris is heading for the Senate after her win in Tuesday's primary. (Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Variety file photo)
California's Kamala Harris is heading for the Senate after her win in Tuesday's primary. (Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Variety file photo)

Democrat Kamala Harris will defeat Rep. Loretta Sanchez in California’s open-seat Senate race, The Associated Press projects.

Harris led Sanchez 65 percent to 35 percent with 5 percent of precincts reporting.

[Election Results 2016]

She succeeds retiring four-term Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, who has held the seat since 1993.

Harris and Sanchez, both Democrats, finished 1-2 in California’s June primary. Under the state’s election rules, the top two vote-getters advance to the general election, regardless of party.

Coming into Election Day, the race was rated Safe Democrat by the Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report/Roll Call. 

[With Big Lead in California Senate Race, Harris Focuses Down Ballot]

Harris has been California’s attorney general since 2011 and will become the second African-American woman to ever serve in the Senate. 

She ran on a platform emphasizing criminal justice reform. In the Senate, she has said she would like tackle a number of issues, including strengthening cybersecurity and reinstating the assault weapons ban. 

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