Doug LaMalfa, James Gallagher leading primary results | Election

Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) and state Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) each took impressive first steps toward their reelection bids Tuesday night, easily earning a majority of the votes through early counting in the June 7 primary elections.

LaMalfa, seeking a sixth term in California’s 1st congressional district, led Democrat challenger Max Steiner 33,113 to 25,160 as of 9 p.m. Tuesday with 68 percent of the vote counted. LaMalfa led Steiner percentage-wise 51-39. In Butte County, however, Steiner led LaMalfa 7,536-6,170.

Two other challengers, Republican Tim Geist and independent Rose Penelope Yee, were a distant third and fourth, meaning LaMalfa and Steiner are headed for a rematch in the general election Nov. 8.

In early Assembly race voting, Gallagher (14,427) held a commanding 58.8-41.2 lead over Democratic challenger David Zink (10,121), with write-in candidate Jeanenne Hoston a distant third with just over 46 percent of the vote counted. Gallagher and Zink will likely face off again Nov. 8.

The Butte County race between Zink and Gallagher was tight, with Gallagher holding a narrow 7,384-7,084 lead through early returns.

Gallagher was first elected to the assembly representing District 3 in 2014, and has won each of his subsequent elections with at least 60 percent of the vote.