Calley Cederlof and Sheyanne N Romero | Visalia Times-Delta

Sheyanne N Romero, Visalia Times-Delta

Sheyanne N Romero

Devin Nunes took a commanding lead over a Democratic challenger in early results Tuesday night, although he still faces months of campaigning as the top two finishers face off again in November.

It looks likely Andrew Janz will be that opponent.

Janz is fighting for one of the biggest U.S. House seats up for grabs in a region where Democrats usually don't have a shot. But Nunes (R-Tulare) aligned himself with President Donald Trump and controversy surrounded the pair during an investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, Nunes finds himself with his first real opponent ever.

“This victory tonight is not about a victory for Democrats or progressives or liberals," Janz said. "This is really a victory for our entire community and a victory for our entire nation because this race isn’t about Republican versus Democrat. It’s not red versus blue. This race is about the future of the Central Valley.”

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Early election results show the voting public still favors their current representative. Late Tuesday night, Nunes took a large 58 percent lead. Janz had only garnered 32 percent.

"I want to thank the voters for reaffirming their support for the work we are doing on behalf of the San Joaquin Valley," Nunes said from Washington DC. "I also want to thank our team that works hard all year delivering the best constituent services to our district."

Janz's run has attracted national attention and mobilized local Trump/Nunes opponents.

Dave Derby and his wife Beverly mingled with other guests at Janz’s election night party.

They met the candidate in April 2017, just months after they began “Every Tuesday Vigil” outside of Nunes’ Fresno Office.

“We started with a sign, ‘no ban, no wall,’” Dave Derby said. “It was just the two of us. Then the next week two more people showed up, then two more people. Two weeks ago we had 90 people in front of his office.”

Calley Cederlof

As the early election results came in, with Janz securing 34 percent of the Fresno County vote, Dave Derby was still optimistic.

“We thought if we were anywhere above 25 (percent) we would be good. But in the 30s is great. We’ve got more work to do.”

His wife agreed.

“We want to blindside Nunes,” Beverly Derby said.

Dan Percello, of Fresno, was one of the first voters at the polls Tuesday morning. Unlike the Derby's, he wanted to keep strong Republican leaders in the state and across the ballot.

"This election is exceedingly important," he said.

Sheyanne N Romero

The Janz/Nunes race was "tops" for Percello. But so was the race for governor.

"For 40 years, Democrats have been running California into the ground," he said. "This is a chance to turn it around."

Others agreed the Republican leadership should remain in place.

“I’ve been into politics since high school but I felt this election was especially important,” said Jordan Buller of Visalia. “I’ve always liked Devin Nunes. He’s fought for the Valley. I appreciate what he’s done."

Buller wasn't alone. Fourth generation Visalia farmer Graham Burt said he personally knows and supports Nunes.

"I don't have any problems with [Nunes]," Burt said. "I think he represents the heart of Tulare County. He's really involved in the community."

Although Jared Coppola is in support of Nunes, he believes there are problems in both the Democrat and Republican parties.

"I can't say I'm not on the fence," he said. "I've given it some thought. There's a general dysfunction in politics. How do we solve that?"

Sheyanne N Romero

Nunes is out of the district on Election Day as Congress is in session. He voted by mail, as many Californians did when ballots were sent out in early May.

His introduction to the spotlight began 20 years ago.

After a 1998 primary loss, Nunes waited four years to make another run for Congress while serving on Visalia's College of the Sequoias Board of Trustees.

For the 2002 run, he had the backing of Bill Thomas, the powerful Kern County Republican congressman and chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

In November 2002, Nunes went on to easily win the general election with 70 percent of the vote.

He now finds himself in the national spotlight as head of one of the most influential panel of lawmakers in the country — the House Intelligence Committee.