Rep. Kevin Kiley beats Jessica Morse in California, Lake Tahoe congressional election

Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Roseville, defeated his Democratic challenger in California's 3rd Congressional District, the Associated Press projected on Wednesday.

Kiley, a freshman congressman, faced Democrat Jessica Morse, a wildfire mitigation expert, in this district that nonpartisan election analysts said would likely select a Republican this year.

Kiley had 57.5% of the votes with an estimated 60% of votes counted as of 7:48 a.m. on Wednesday. Morse had 42.5%. The results include partial returns.

The 3rd district stretches from the northern Sierra Nevada along the Nevada border into Death Valley, taking in Alpine, Inyo, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas and Sierra counties plus parts of El Dorado, Sacramento and Yuba counties.

Analysts have been watching this Lake Tahoe district that reaches into some of the Sacramento suburbs as one that might grow bluer over time.

Several California congressional contests could help decide whether Democrats or Republicans control the House of Representatives in 2025.

Kiley, 39, serves on the powerful House Judiciary Committee. He also is a member of committees on transportation and infrastructure and education and the workforce, serving as chair of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

Before his election to Congress in 2022, Kiley, served in the California State Assembly beginning in 2016.

Morse, 42, was previously a Deputy Secretary for Forest and Wildland Resilience at the California Natural Resources Agency. Recently, the Democrat was a member of the bipartisan federal Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission which made recommendations on forest management and other measures to lessen the severity of wildfires.

She previously ran and lost against Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove, in 2018.