Bay Area Could Have a New Republican Assembly Member

East Bay state Assembly candidate Catharine Baker is claiming victory, possibly becoming the only Republican Assembly member in the entire Bay Area.

Baker told KQED she got a very gracious call from her Democratic opponent, Tim Sbranti. KQED is awaiting direct word from Sbranti on his concession. Sbranti was trailing Baker, 48 percent to 52 percent with all precincts reporting.

Sbranti issued a statement this afternoon, part of which says:

I have called Catharine Baker and wished her well moving forward. I also informed her that there are thousands of outstanding ballots left to be counted.

District 16 encompasses much of central Contra Costa County and southern Alameda County and runs from Orinda southeast through Livermore. Current Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, a Democrat, is termed out after six years in office. Only about a third of voters in this district are registered Republicans.

Baker says the 16th is a special district without a lot of extreme, partisan views.

"Voters have given us feedback that they really want to make sure this community has a voice in Sacramento that is independent from major interests, above party and above all other loyalties," Baker said. "I am greatly honored to have this opportunity now to be that voice in Sacramento."

Statewide, Republicans gained several seats in the Assembly and successfully blocked Democrats from regaining a two-thirds majority in the Senate.

"What it shows it that one-party rule is not the panacea," said Senate Republican spokesman Peter DeMarco. "After a year of scandals and embarrassing headlines, voters in the Central Valley and in Orange County realize how grave the threat was to their way of life."

Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen, a Republican, won 60 percent support in the 34th Senate District over former Assemblyman Jose Solorio. The GOP's Young Kim took the 65th Assembly District seat in Orange County from Democratic incumbent Sharon Quirk-Silva with 56 percent of votes.

Palmdale Democratic freshman Steve Fox lost his 36th Assembly District seat to GOP opponent Tom Lackey, who led with 61 percent of the vote.

Steve Maviglio, spokesman for Assembly Democrats, said the caucus was expecting to hold on to 52 seats, the same number it had in 2010. He downplayed the significance of having a supermajority.

"In reality, it just makes a lot of procedural issues easier," Maviglio said.

This post contains reporting from the Associated Press.