Melissa Melendez Claims Win In 67th State Assembly Race

NOTE FROM REGISTRAR'S OFFICE AS OF 8 a.m. Wednesday: Election Night vote counting is complete, but results are not final. Information regarding provisional, vote-by-mail, and damaged ballots that require duplication and remain to be counted will be posted shortly.

UPDATE at 8:12 a.m.: Tuesday night at her campaign headquarters at the Lake Elsinore Outlets, 67th State Assembly District candidate Melissa Melendez watched election results slowly trickle in – she was slightly behind.

“We expected to be down a little in the beginning,” the Republican candidate said as she was surrounded by her husband and children

But as daylight breaks in her city, the Lake Elsinore City Councilwoman has pulled ahead of her GOP opponent, French Valley resident Phil Paule.

“It’s been a lot of ups and downs,” Melendez said Tuesday night. “Sometimes you feel solid and sometimes not so.”

[CLICK HERE FOR UPDATED RESULTS.]

The contest has been a horse race from the start, but Melendez has fought hard against the aide to Rep. Darrell Issa.

“I am humbled by the outpouring of support and look forward to representing with dignity and class in Sacramento,” she said.

Click here for election results.