Devin Nunes fends off Democratic opponent in California

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) was projected to win reelection to represent California’s 22nd Congressional District for another term Wednesday afternoon.

Nunes fended off a competitive challenger in Democrat Phil Arballo, who had cut into Nunes’s lead in the weeks before Election Day. His victory ensures that he will remain in Congress for at least another two years.

The Associated Press called the race for Nunes at 12:46 p.m. PST, garnering more than 53 percent of the vote with 100 percent of precincts reporting. 

Nunes is the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, a leadership post he has served in since the beginning of President Trump’s first term.

Nunes is a loyal Trump ally on Capitol Hill. He was one of Trump’s main defenders in Congress during the president’s impeachment by the House of Representatives last year. The House impeachment inquiry was spearheaded by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), one of Trump’s fiercest critics.

Nunes, a former dairy farmer, has served in Congress since 2003, first representing California’s 21st Congressional District before redistricting.