Republican Natasha Johnson took a 54.2%-45.8% lead over Democrat Chris Shoults in early unofficial returns in Tuesday’s special election in Riverside County’s 63rd Assembly District, according to the Riverside County Registrar of Voters.

Johnson has 28,958 votes to 24,470 for Shoults.

Johnson has been a Lake Elsinore City Council member since 2012. She said her entire orientation is “good government” by staying focused on policies that best “protect taxpayers.”

“As an Assembly member, I will support law enforcement to keep our neighborhoods safe, fight Sacramento taxes and red tape to lower our cost of living and protect parental rights and put students and parents first,” she said.

Johnson has worked in personal finance and business for nearly three decades.

Shoults lost to then-Asse

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