VALLEY REMAINS REPUBLICAN RED A.V. LAST SENT DEMOCRAT TO STATE ASSEMBLY 30 YEARS AGO.

Byline: CHARLES F. BOSTWICK Staff Writer

LANCASTER -- The United States' political map turned a lot more blue in Tuesday's election, but one spot that stayed predictably Republican red was the Antelope Valley.

While Democrats were gaining control of Congress, Antelope Valley voters re-elected a longtime Republican congressman, helped send a new Republican to the neighboring congressional seat, and re-elected two Republicans to the state Assembly, where Antelope Valley voters last sent a Democrat 30 years ago.

U.S. Rep. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon, the Santa Clarita Republican who has represented parts of the Antelope for 14 years, escaped the Democrats' congressional charge unscathed, but for the first time since his first term he finds himself in the minority.

Republican Kevin McCarthy, the state Assembly Republican leader, took over for his former boss, Bill Thomas, in the congressional seat representing Kern County and part of Lancaster.

``I will work hard to ensure that government is accountable to the people,'' said McCarthy, who had been an aide to Thomas before his election in 2002 to represent a district that includes the southern San Joaquin Valley and other parts of Kern County. ``I will continue the effort to protect America at home and abroad, secure our borders, and keep taxes low so employers can hire more workers and the American people keep more of what they earn.''

Thomas, a Bakersfield Republican who had spent more than a quarter-century in Congress, chose not to seek a 15th term. As head of the House Ways and Means Committee, he controlled legislation covering Medicare, Social Security and all federal taxation.

Thomas said late Tuesday of the congressional political shift: ``The Democrats must perform now that they control Congress. Republicans will continue to provide real policy solutions that strengthen our national defense, lower taxes, and improve access to health care.''

Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster, defeated Palmdale School District trustee Robert ``Bo'' Bynum, a Democrat, to win a third term in Sacramento. Voters in Kern County, including Rosamond and Mojave, re-elected Republican Bill Maze to the neighboring Assembly district.

Antelope Valley voters haven't sent a Democrat to represent them in Sacramento since former Palmdale Mayor Larry Chimbole in 1974 and 1976.

Runner won the 36th Assembly District with 61.4 percent of the vote, to 38.6 percent for Bynum. Maze won the 34th Assembly District with 67.7 percent of the vote, to 28.9 percent for Democrat Desmond Farrelly and 3.4 percent to Green David Minton Silva.

McKeon won the 25th Congressional District with 59.9 percent of the vote, to 35.8 percent for Democrat Robert Rodriguez and 4.3 percent for Libertarian David Erickson.

McCarthy won the 22nd Congressional District with 70.7 percent of the vote to 29.3 percent for Democrat Sharon Beery.

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2 photos

Photo: (1 -- color) McKEON

(2 -- color) RUNNER