DeMaio holds razor-thin lead over Peters in San Diego-area House race

Reporting from San Diego —  Republican challenger Carl DeMaio held a razor-thin lead over incumbent Rep. Scott Peters (D-San Diego) after a campaign that was filled with accusations and high levels of spending.

With 100% of the precincts counted, DeMaio held a 752-vote lead. But some 180,000 absentee and provisional ballots in San Diego County have yet to be counted, according to the county elections department. It is unknown how many of those ballots are in the 52nd District, which includes Poway, Coronado and a northern section of San Diego.

The absentee and provisional ballots will not be counted until at least Thursday, officials said.

Speaking to supporters Tuesday night, DeMaio said voters were attracted by his Fix Congress First campaign.

“They want less fighting and more fixing,” he said.

With the national parties, independent committees and candidates spending lavishly, total spending on the race may exceed $12 million.

The race was marked by allegations from a former campaign worker that DeMaio was guilty of sexual misconduct. DeMaio dismissed the allegations as false and designed only to hurt his campaign, and San Diego prosecutors announced two weeks before the election that they would not file charges citing insufficient evidence.

DeMaio, 40, served one term on the San Diego City Council before being defeated for mayor in 2012. Peters, 56, served on the City Council and Port Commission before defeating Republican Rep. Brian Bilbray in 2012.

Follow the reporter on Twitter: @LATsandiego