Longtime House Dem squeaks by former actor

Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) held on to her seat Tuesday, beating Republican opponent Chris Mitchum.

With all the votes counted, The Associated Press called the race for Capps, who bested Mitchum 52 percent to 48 percent.

{mosads}Mitchum made a late charge in the polls, but was unable to topple the incumbent Capps.

Energy production was a focal point of the campaign. Mitchum, an actor and son of famous film noir actor Robert Mitchum, wanted to expand local oil and gas production, while Capps focused on an eventual transfer to renewable energy sources.

Capps, who has held a congressional seat for 16 years, was also dogged by questions regarding a fatal DUI hit-and-run by one of her staffers.