The first unofficial election results show Democrat Will Rollins leading Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, in the race for California’s 41st Congressional District.

Calvert and Rollins fought for the right to represent California’s 41st Congressional District, which encompasses cities in the Coachella Valley, Calimesa, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Norco, Wildomar and parts of Corona, Eastvale and Riverside.

According to the first unofficial election results released by the Riverside County Registrar of Voters at 8:22 p.m., Rollins was leading the race with 52.09% of the vote. Calvert obtained 47.91% of the votes.

LIVE ELECTION RESULTS: See a chart of the latest vote counts

the race became one of the most followed in the country. Its fate, along with some congressional districts across the country, could determine which party controls the House of Representatives for at least the next two years.

It is also one of the most expensive house raceswith both candidates raising more than $17 million combined – a figure that does not include spending by super PACs and other groups aligned with Republicans and Democrats.

The 41st is competitive because of its small gap in voter registration. In September, 36.99% of ’41 voters were registered as Republicans, while 36.38% were registered as Democrats. state records show.

First elected in the early 1990s, Calvert is accustomed to easily winning re-election in safe Republican districts. This time, he found himself fighting for his political life against Rollins, who outplayed his opponent and got additional help from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

As was the case in 2022, when Calvert narrowly beat Rollins, the campaign became a personal and ugly feud. The pro-Calvert ads called Rollins a habitual liar with few ties to the district who inflated his accomplishments as a federal prosecutor.

Calvert also attempted to link Rollins to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Gov. Gavin Newsom, both right-wing villains, in an effort to boost conservative turnout.

Rollins, in turn, promoted an image of Calvert as a corrupt congressman who, he claimed, handled federal funds in a manner that reinforced its real estate investments. Calvert, Rollins said, is a far-right extremist beholden to Donald Trump who has done nothing to lower the cost of living.

To avoid losing to Calvert like he did two years ago, Rollins will have to accumulate votes in the Coachella Valley, home to a Democratic stronghold in Palm Springs.

The western part of 41. includes GOP-friendly cities like Norco, Canyon Lake and Menifee, as well as cities with slight Democratic pluralities in Corona, Eastvale and Lake Elsinore.

Rollins will have to do well in the light cities and at the very least limit his losses in the red cities to beat Calvert, the Inland Empire’s longest-serving congressman.