582 votes separate Christensen, Yang in superintendent race; Thurmond leads

Education policy executive Lance Ray Christensen holds a 582-vote lead Monday over software architect George Yang in the race for the second spot in the November ballot for state superintendent of public instruction, according to figures released by the Secretary of State’s Office.

Christensen has 467,500 votes (11.4%) to 466,918 for Yang (11.4%). Incumbent Tony K. Thurmond leads the nonpartisan race with 1,898,382 votes (46.2%).

Christensen began Sunday’s vote count with a 1,899-vote lead over Yang. Christensen was in third when Saturday’s vote count began, 2,124 votes behind Yang.

Republican Robert Howell leads Democratic Assemblyman Marc Levine by 10,819 votes in the race for second for insurance commissioner. Howell, a cybersecurity equipment manufacturer, led by 15,097 when Sunday’s count began.

Howell has 785,387 votes (17.9%) to 774,568 (17.6%) for Levine, D-San Rafael. Incumbent Democrat Ricardo Lara leads with 1,608,713 votes (36.6%).

In the attorney general’s race, former Assistant U.S. Attorney General Nathan Hochman extended his lead over fellow Republican Eric Early, an attorney and business owner, to 76,067 votes after leading by 75,878 at the start of Sunday’s vote count and 70,295 at the start of Saturday’s.

Hochman has 822,516 votes (18.3%) to 746,449 (16.6%) for Early. Appointed Democratic incumbent Rob Bonta leads with 2,469,751 (54.8%).