(CAMARILLO, Calif.) — Sixth-term Rep. Julia Brownley has retained her seat against Republican challenger Michael Koslow in California’s 26th Congressional District, NBC News projected Tuesday, with 54% of the vote reported.

Brownley’s campaign was victorious, taking 55.6% of the district’s approximately 760,000 residents. Koslow lost with 44.4% of the vote.

In a closely contested election, the race had been in limbo as Democrats hoped to flip the Republican-controlled House in their favor. Brownley’s victory is crucial for maintaining Democratic representation in Congress.

Her election highlights the weight of her commitment to progressive values when critical issues like women’s reproductive freedom, immigration, and climate change are at the forefront of national debate. Brownley’s win underscores a commitment to addressing these issues and the prioritization of her constituents’ needs.

Before holding public office, Brownley was a senior executive at the California Department of Aging from 2006 to 2008. In this role, she developed policies and programs to protect seniors and address their aging challenges

She was a representative in the California State Assembly from 2006 until 2012, focusing on environmental preservation, medical services, and education. Since her election in 2012, Brownley has served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

In 2019, the Congresswoman introduced the Veterans Affairs Committee’s Women Veterans Task Force Act — the bill aimed to provide comprehensive mental services and quality care for women who have served. President Joe Biden signed it into law on March 10, 2022.

“The authorization of the Task Force will further advance our mission to increase the visibility of women veterans and promote inclusivity and true equity for the two million women who have served our nation in uniform,” Brownley said at the time. “As chair of the Women Veterans Task Force, I am proud to continue our work to recognize the service and sacrifice of America’s women veterans.”

Koslow is a former US Air Force member and Department of Defense Inspector. His campaign platform centered on lowering inflation, public safety, and core program education.

The 26th Congressional District serves the coastal counties of Ventura and Los Angeles — covering the cities of Malibu, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Camarillo, and Oxnard.

Since 2012, this suburban district has trended considerably more Democratic. In 2012, Brownley won her first election over Republican Tony Strickland by over 5 points. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein won it by over 12 points, 56.2 to 43.8%, and President Obama carried the district by 10 points, 54.0 to 43.7%.

“The voter turnout is crazy,” Camarillo poll worker Brooke Kim said. “Hundreds of people are showing up to exercise their right to vote — working as a first-time poll aide was very eye-opening for me. I got to understand the voting process a lot more.”