Republican congressional candidate Brian Nestande conceded defeat Wednesday morning in the race for a Riverside County seat, while in San Bernardino County, Democrat Pete Aguilar declared victory in a contest that gained attention at the national level.

Nestande, a term-limited assemblyman from Palm Desert, congratulated Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Palm Desert, on winning re-electin in the 36th Congressional District, which includes Hemet, the Pass, San Jacinto and the Coachella Valley.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to have represented the citizens of this district for the past 6 years in the California Assembly,” Nestande said in a news release.

“Congressman Ruiz ran an effective campaign and tonight, I congratulate him on his victory. I am humbled by the overwhelming amount of support my campaign received.This country faces many challenges and I wish Congressman Ruiz the best in representing our communities.”

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With 100 percent of precincts reporting but a significant number of provisional, damaged and vote-by-mail ballots left to count, Ruiz led Nestande by more than 6,800 votes. Ruiz gained 53 percent of the vote compared to 47 percent for Nestande.

As of Wednesday morning, roughly 1,600 votes separated Aguilar, who is mayor of Redlands, from Republican Paul Chabot in the race for the open 31st Congressional District.

That was enough for Aguilar to declare himself the winner. “I’m honored that Inland Empire families have chosen me to represent them in Congress,” Aguilar said in an emailed statement.

“The people of San Bernardino County spoke clearly tonight by choosing a representative who is dedicated to building the middle class, and one who puts people over politics to get results for our community.”

However, the Chabot campaign wasn’t ready to concede midday Wednesday. Ryan Hall, a Chabot spokesman, said the candidate was awaiting the next round of results, which are expected at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Reps. Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley, Mark Takano, D-Riverside and Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, led in their races. And state Sen. Norma Torres, D-Pomona, led in her bid for a congressional district in San Bernardino County.

Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, continues to be the Inland Empire’s longest-serving congressman. He defeated Democrat Tim Sheridan in the race for the 42nd Congressional District, which stretches from Corona to Murrieta.

“Like many Americans, my constituents are frustrated and disappointed with the path President Obama has led our nation down,” he said in a news release. “Tonight, I believe the American people have rejected the president’s failed approach.”

Sheridan, a labor union representative from Lake Elsinore, conceded on Twitter.

Aguilar, who is mayor of Redlands, and Chabot, a homeland security consultant from Rancho Cucamonga, ran for the 31st Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Gary Miller, R-Rancho Cucamonga.

The race was significant on a larger scale because it represents a prime chance for Democrats to flip a district and bite into the GOP House majority. President Barack Obama won the 31st district in 2012, and Democrats hold the edge in the district’s voter registration.

Democrats sought to portray Aguilar as a champion of middle-class values while attacking Chabot as a Tea Party extremist. Chabot tried to tie Aguilar to an unpopular Obama.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and other groups spent big on TV ads and mailers going after Chabot. Chabot was outspent, but that was the case in the primary, when he finished first by 9 percentage points over Aguilar.

A Chabot win would be humiliating for Democrats, who lost their majority in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday as Republicans maintained control of the House and Representatives and won almost every contested race in the nation.

Ruiz’s win provides Democrats some solace. Ruiz, an emergency-room doctor and the son of migrant workers, staged a come-from-behind victory two years ago against seven-term Republican Mary Bono. He emphasized a moderate image during his re-election campaign in a district where GOP-registered voters outnumber Democrats.

Nestande, a former Bono chief of staff, attacked Ruiz as a tax-and-spend Obama supporter while campaigning on a promise to fight excessive taxation and regulation.

Takano faced a challenge from Republican and Riverside Councilman Steve Adams for the 41st Congressional District, which covers Riverside, Perris, Moreno Valley and Jurupa Valley.

Takano, a former schoolteacher, won the newly created district in 2012. He touted his work to help veterans and bring doctors to the region while Adams stressed his ability to create jobs and mitigate the negative effects of the goods movement on district residents.

Takano declared victory in a news release late Tuesday.

“When the 144th Congress is sworn into office early next year, it is my hope that the gridlock that has plagued our body for the last several years ends and that we can overcome the obstacles laid before us and improve the lives of the American people,” he said.

Hunter and Democrat James Kimber were the candidates in the 50th Congressional District, which represents two-thirds of Temecula in addition to part of San Diego County.

Torres and Democrat Christina Gagnier ran to succeed Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod, D-Chino, in the 35th Congressional District, which covers Ontario, Pomona and Chino. Cook was opposed by Democrat Bob Conaway in the 8th Congressional District, which includes Hesperia, Victorville and Apple Valley.