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Denham, McNerney going back again
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Congressional candidate Jose Hernandez, center, cast his vote on election day at his local polling place, The Commons at Union Ranch in Manteca. Hernandez was accompanied by his wife and youngest son in carrying out his constitutional right to cast his ballot. Hernandez spoke with General Manager Angela Boucher about recently moving to the area and was quoted saying, I am excited to be here. - photo by Photo courtesy of Jose Alvarez

San Joaquin County voters opted not to send an astronaut to Washington, D.C., nor did they opt to start a youth movement in Congress.

Current congressmen Jeff Denham and Jerry McNerney - who both moved to newly created districts after reapportionment - were headed to victory on Tuesday night.

Denham had 54.7 percent compared to 45.3 percent with 369 out of 507 precincts reporting as of 11:45 p.m. Tuesday in the 10th District race.

In the 9th District, McNerney had 52.9 percent of the vote to 47.1 percent for Ricky Gill with 237 of 478 precincts reporting as of 11:47 p.m.

Denham - a former California State Senator and an almond grower - was elected in 2010 to the 19th Congressional District that stretches from part of Modesto in the north to the northern part of Fresno in the south.

The Turlock Republican who will represent Manteca, Ripon, Escalon, Tracy and all of Stanislaus County in the newly created 10th Congressional District is the author of the Civilian Property Realignment Act (House of Representatives Bill 1734). In a nutshell the measure would generate $15 billion and also have the potential to save tens of millions of dollars a year in maintenance and operation costs by selling unused or underutilized federal properties.

The Air Force veteran of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Restore Hope in Somalia has made reducing taxes and federal regulations a cornerstone of his effort in Washington, D.C. He believes by trimming back and streamlining regulations it would make government less intrusive as well as make it easier for individuals, businesses and farmers to prosper.

Hernandez - a Democrat and NASA astronaut - moved to Manteca to run for office.

McNerney is wrapping up his third term in Congress. He continues to represent Manteca up until January. The new 9th District includes Lathrop, Stockton, and Lodi as well as part of Sacramento County.

He was being challenged by Republican Ricky Gill who would have just turned 25 - the minimum age for serving in Congress - before being sworn into office had he been elected.