California election results: An upset in the making? Mike Villines trails Brian FitzGerald in insurance chief bid

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Former Assembly Republican leader Mike Villines (R-Clovis) is trailing GOP rival Brian FitzGerald, a political unknown who has not reported spending or raising any funds in his bid for insurance commissioner.

With 100% of precincts reporting but absentee and provisional votes yet to be tallied, Villines trailed FitzGerald by 11,204 votes, 50.4% to 49.6%.

Villines, who angered the GOP base when he negotiated a February 2009 budget deal that included temporary taxes, reported spending $228,000 on his bid this year. He had another $227,000 in the bank as of May 22, perhaps trying to save precious campaign funds for a general-election fight, which may not come to pass.

FitzGerald has yet to spend the $5,000 necessary to trigger electronic reporting of campaign spending. The campaign appears to consist of a Facebook page and FitzGerald’s blog, on which he’s jokingly referred to himself as ‘Fitz the Unknown.’ FitzGerald is an attorney in the Department of Insurance, which he is seeking the GOP nomination to lead.

-- Shane Goldmacher in Sacramento