Congressional District 23 Race Remains Close as Vote Counting Continues.
ANTELOPE VALLEY, CA — November 5, 2026 — The election may be over for many races, but the contest for California’s 23rd Congressional District remains close, with Republican incumbent Jay Obernolte leading Democratic challenger Tessa Lynn Hodge by a narrow margin in the latest reported results.
According to election figures updated Thursday, November 5, at 9:23 a.m.,
Obernolte has received 67,672 votes (51.4%), while Hodge has secured 64,101 votes (48.6%).
The difference is just 3,571 votes, making this a closely watched congressional contest affecting portions of the Antelope Valley.
Although the report shows 100% of the district’s 1,324 precincts reporting, that does not necessarily mean every ballot has been counted. Mail-in ballots, provisional ballots, and ballots requiring additional verification may still affect the final totals.
The close margin has drawn attention as election officials continue processing ballots. The contest has not yet been called,
For voters in the Antelope Valley communities covered by District 23, the outcome will determine who represents them in the U.S. House of Representatives for the next two years.
The bottom line: Obernolte currently leads, but the reported figures remain unofficial. The final outcome will depend on the remaining ballots and certification of the results.
Districtwide totals, not Antelope Valley-only results.
California U.S. House, 2026
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election · November 3 · District 23
57.6% of expected votes counted
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