Bono Mack Takes Early Lead Over Pougnet In Congressional Race

Six-term Republican Rep. Mary Bono Mack took an early lead tonight over Democratic challenger Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet.

With absentee ballots reporting, Bono Mack had 53.3 percent of the vote, while Pougnet had 39.9 percent.

Mary Bono MackSteve PougnetBill Lussenheide

American Independent candidate Bill Lussenheide had 6.9 percent of the vote.

Bono Mack said that although her results were pending, she was excited about Republican wins across the country.

“I believe right now the American people are clamoring for their voices to be heard,” she said.

Pougnet remained optimistic despite his opponent’s early lead.

“We’re all waiting for that next sort of batch of results to come in,” Pougnet told supporters at the Riviera Hotel in Palm Springs. “What do Democrats always do better than Republicans? Grassroots, baby. Because we’re out there.”

Early returns were not posted until about 9:15 p.m. because of a number of voters were waiting to cast ballots in the lobby of the Riverside County Registrar of Voters Office, according to the county’s website.

Bono Mack was elected in 1998 to fill the 45th Congressional District seat held by her late husband, Sonny Bono.

Pougnet, who has been the mayor of Palm Springs since 2007, has said he will bring change to the 45th Congressional District. He has criticized Bono Mack for the district’s high foreclosure and unemployment rates.

“Things are headed in the wrong direction. First, people need jobs,” Pougnet said during a televised debate in August.

During his campaign, Pougnet has touted bringing nearly 1,000 jobs to Palm Springs through the city’s Hotel Incentive Program, which led to the redevelopment of several hotels.

Jobs are also important to Bono Mack, who says on her campaign website that she wants to lower taxes and shrink the size of government.

She has said she will fight to get the government off the backs of small business owners.

“I believe more government and more spending only leads to higher taxes and fewer jobs,” Bono Mack said during a televised debate in August.

Lussenheide campaigned for elimination of the Federal Reserve System. He also called for the repeal of U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion.

The 45th District includes Palm Springs, Coachella, Hemet, Idyllwild, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Thermal, portions of Temecula and several unincorporated areas of Riverside County.