Lieutenant Governor: Gavin Newsom Leads Lesser Known Ron Nehring In California

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Democrat Gavin Newsom led a lesser-known Republican challenger late Tuesday in his bid for a second term in the low-profile post of California's lieutenant governor.

Newsom was in front of his opponent, former state Republican Party chairman Ron Nehring, with 54 percent of the vote with 15 percent of precincts reporting.

Both men running for lieutenant governor campaigned on the idea that the low-visibility job with little power can still be a platform for change - and voters had to decide whose message they preferred.

In first term, Newsom - the former mayor of San Francisco - has used the position to draw attention to domestic violence in the NFL, gay marriage and the California budget.

He also announced his support for the legalization of marijuana and his opposition to Gov. Jerry Brown's high-speed rail project.

Nehring argued that Newsom hasn't done enough to promote economic recovery in California. He also said Newsom avoided a debate that could have made the race less "invisible.

The person who holds the job serves as chair of the California Commission for Economic Development, but the 17-member panel has been unable to meet because it has so many open seats.

Nehring, 44, served four years as the state Republican Party chairman and is now a political consultant based in San Diego. He also serves on a school board.

Newsom, 47, previously served eight years as mayor and garnered national attention when he ordered the San Francisco city clerk in 2004 to ignore state law at the time and issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Newsom's actions led to the legal cases that legalized gay marriage in California.

Newsom launched a brief campaign for governor before dropping out in 2009.

The last Republican to hold the office was Mike Curb, who was elected in 1978.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.