California's 48th -- On to Dec. 6

Republican state Sen. John Campbell led the crowded field in yesterday's special House election in California's 48th district but was unable to capture 50 percent of the vote to win the seat outright.

Campbell took 46 percent of the overall vote, approximately 30 points better than the second place finisher -- former state Assemblywoman Marilyn Brewer (also a Republican).  The biggest surprise of the day was the strong showing of American Independent Party candidate Jim Gilchrist, founder of the anti-immigration group known as the Minuteman Project. Gilchrist took 14 percent of the vote, just behind Brewer's 17 percent. Click here to see full election results from California's amazingly informative election results page. 

Under California law, since no candidate received 50 percent of the vote, the top vote-getters from each party advance to a Dec. 6 special general election.

That means Campbell and Gilchrist as well as Democratic nominee Steve Young, who won 9 percent of the vote on Tuesday, will all face off on Dec. 6.  Candidates from the Libertarian and Green parties will also be on the ballot.

Campbell enters the race as a strong favorite given that President Bush carried the district easily in 2004. The seat was vacated by Chris Cox, who was tapped earlier this year to head the Securities and Exchange Commission.