Carl DeMaio Ahead of Andrew Hayes in Contentious Assembly District 75 Race

Former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio leads moderate Republican challenger Andrew Hayes, with 60.76% to Hayes’ 39.24%, in the contentious race for the 75th Assembly District, which includes Poway and much of East and inland North County.

Hayes, the president of the Lakeside Union School District Board of Trustees, was endorsed by both the state and county Republican Party organizations.

DeMaio, also a Republican, heads the conservative political action committee Reform California.

Last week, a bipartisan group of current and former elected officials and community leaders issued an “anti-endorsement” of DeMaio, backing Hayes in the race.

Shortly after, three San Diego County Republican officials including Rep. Darrell Issa, State Sen. Brian Jones and Supervisor Joel Anderson, called for an investigation into DeMaio’s campaign, alleging misuse of funds from his Reform California PAC.

Winner of the 75th District Assembly seat will succeed Assemblywoman Marie Waldron, R-Valley Center, who is barred from running for reelection because of term limits.