Tony Strickland has leaped out to the lead in California’s state Senate District 36 special election. Strickland, a Republican, largely maintained a lead he had Tuesday night over Democrats Jimmy Pham and Julie Diep, as well as fellow Republican John Briscoe, in the most recent results released Wednesday at 5 p.m.

As of the latest tally, Strickland is over the 50% plus 1 mark needed to avoid the runoff, but more than 14,000 ballots remain.

Four candidates — two Republicans and two Democrats — are vying to replace former state Senator Janet Nguyen, who won a seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors in November. The winner will serve out the remainder of Nguyen’s term, which ends in December 2026.