Upset in the making? Late Kern County votes put TJ Cox ahead of Valadao in congressional race

Shortly after this posting Monday night, the Cox campaign announced that Democratic TJ Cox, thanks to new Kern County vote totals, has taken the lead in the 21st Congressional District. According to the release, new Kern County vote totals give Cox a 438 vote lead as the vote counting continues. Kern reported that Cox gained a net 885 votes to take the lead in the down-to-the-wire contest.

On election day Cox trailed the incumbent, David Valadao, by nearly 5,000 votes. He trails substantially in Kings County but easily defeated Valadao in Kern County and was on the verge of overtaking the congressman in Fresno County.

Kern County has a little over 11,000 ballots left to count. About 15,500 votes remain to uncounted in Fresno County.

"Here in the Central Valley, we are often underestimated and counted out," stated Cox in a press release released late Monday afternoon. "But while the national spotlight focused elsewhere, our hard-working communities came together to fight for better health care, good jobs, and more opportunities. We came together to stand up for our families and our neighbors because Washington wasn't standing up for us. We demanded better from our elected officials. Now, together, we are bringing the decency, integrity, and common sense of the people back to Congress."

New vote totals are expected this week from Fresno and Kern County elections officials.