Obernolte Leads Hodge by Under 4,000 Votes
Republican Jay Obernolte holds a narrow lead over Democrat Tessa Lynn Hodge in the CA-23 congressional race as counting continues.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Republican Rep. Jay Obernolte of Hesperia led Democrat Tessa Lynn Hodge by fewer than 4,000 votes in the 23rd Congressional District race as of Wednesday morning, with Obernolte at 51.3% to Hodge's 48.7%. More than 100,000 votes remained to be counted.
Why it matters
The narrow margin means the final outcome of the district's congressional seat will depend on the remaining ballots, and the race reflects a broader midterm pattern in which voters punished Republicans amid an unpopular president in the White House. For California residents in the High Desert, the result will determine who represents their district in Washington.
Obernolte had 67,169 votes to Hodge's 63,681 as of Wednesday morning, a narrower margin than his 60.1% share in the 2024 general election. More than 100,000 ballots remained uncounted, so the final margin is unresolved.
The players
Jay Obernolte
Republican U.S. Representative from Hesperia who has represented California's 23rd Congressional District and is seeking to retain his seat.
Tessa Lynn Hodge
Democratic candidate from Victorville challenging Obernolte in the CA-23 congressional race.
The details
Hodge posted midday Wednesday that the race was still open with 100,000 votes left to count. Hodge had attacked Obernolte for being disinterested in the lives of working class High Desert residents, while Obernolte's campaign reported a $1.8 million war chest and left over a million dollars in the bank.
Timeline
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Election held with results counted over the following days.
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, 8:08 a.m.: Obernolte led Hodge 51.3% to 48.7% in the initial count.
Dec. 11, 2026: Deadline to certify Tuesday's election results.
Legal Context
Obernolte's 2024 win with 60.1% of the vote in CA-23 set a comfortable benchmark against which the current near-even count stands out. The narrowing margin fits a midterm pattern in which voters punished Republicans while a historically unpopular president held the White House.
The outcome will determine which candidate represents the district in Congress, affecting federal policy for High Desert residents. Because the margin is under 4,000 votes with over 100,000 ballots left, the result may not be clear for weeks.
The takeaway
A race separated by fewer than 4,000 votes shows how much remaining ballots can still change a congressional outcome. Voters tracking CA-23 should watch county updates through the December 11 certification deadline.
What happens next
County officials will continue counting the remaining ballots, and the election results must be certified by Dec. 11.
Further reading
For more on how the state's races are decided, see the latest California Elections coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Redlands Daily Facts.
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