If Strickland can stay above the 50% plus one threshold, he’ll win the seat outright without needing to go to an April runoff.

Tony Strickland has leaped out to the lead in California’s state Senate District 36 special election. Strickland, a Republican, largely maintained a lead he had Tuesday night over Democrats Jimmy Pham and Julie Diep, as well as fellow Republican John Briscoe, in the most recent results released Wednesday at 5 p.m.

Huntington Beach City Councilman Tony Strickland appeared Wednesday to be headed for a victory in the 36th Senate District special election without the need of a runoff with 51.1% of the vote, according to unofficial results.

As of the latest tally, Strickland is over the 50% plus 1 mark needed to avoid the runoff, but more than 14,000 ballots remain.

Four candidates — two Republicans and two Democrats — are vying to replace former state Senator Janet Nguyen, who won a seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors in November. The winner will serve out the remainder of Nguyen’s term, which ends in December 2026.

Tuesday is the deadline for voters in the 36th Senate District in or southeastern Los Angeles County and much of the Orange County coast to cast ballots in the special election necessitated by Janet Nguyen’s election to the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

Can Strickland avoid the April runoff? He faces John Briscoe, Julie Diep and Jimmy Pham in today’s primary contest.