On to his 11th term

The voters of the 46th Congressional district are sending U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher back to Congress. Huntington Beach Mayor Debbie Cook’s attempt to unseat 10-term Rep. Dana Rohrabacher was defeated in both Orange County and Los Angeles County, and the incumbent sailed to term 11.

Rohrabacher, known for his outspoken and uncensored style on issues ranging from foreign policy to illegal immigration to the environment, held a solid lead with most votes counted.

Cook came into the race somewhat late, but observers called the mayor, attorney and conservation activist the most high-profile challenger Rohrabacher had seen in his 20 years in Congress. While Cook had hopes to use her name recognition in Huntington Beach and outreach in Long Beach to make up for the district’s heavy Republican lean, the results didn’t pan out.

Cook said she had a “great day” thanking supporters as she watched the polls with a few dozen fellow Democrats at the Centerfield Sports Bar & Grill, just steps away from her campaign headquarters in the same strip mall.

The room, which included local notables like Councilwoman Jill Hardy and even Cook’s former primary challenger, Dan Kalmick, was mostly concerned with something else than her campaign, however: watching and cheering as Democratic president-elect Barack Obama took the stage for his victory speech.

Rohrabacher was among crowds of high-profile Republicans at the Hyatt Regency Irvine, where county candidates and other supporters watched the national numbers come in on giant twin screens showing Fox News. He said he was proud of the race.

“I’m gratified that the people were able to discern what my opinions were as compared to what my opponent’s opinions were,” Rohrabacher said of the race.

Though headed for defeat, Cook said she was proud of her effort to unseat Rohrabacher.

“I feel like we ran the best race we possibly could,” Cook said. “Nobody could have done a better job. I had a great group of volunteers, and I’m proud of the job we did.”

But Cook had more criticism for the way the issues were debated. Asked if she thought her message got heard, Cook offered an emphatic no.

“That’s the real shame of a gerrymandered district, that you don’t get to actually debate the issues,” she said.

Rohrabacher had a different view, calling the race a simple matter of ideas.

“It really wasn’t a tough campaign, because all I was doing was honestly sharing points of view and letting the public decide,” he said.

Out at the polls earlier in the day, residents on both sides of the race said they were mostly just voting along party lines.

One exception was Costa Mesa resident and Rohrabacher voter Lloyd Ellis, who said, “I like his stand on illegal immigration.”

As for the prospect of going back to Washington under a President Obama, Rohrabacher said he wasn’t expecting his role to change radically.

“I have been estranged from my own president for a number of years,” he said. “I’ve been somewhat independent the past few years anyway. I’m used to working with allies on both sides of the aisle on specific issues, and I will continue to do that.”

With her City Council tenure coming to a close and her Congressional race unsuccessful, Cook said she wasn’t sure what she would do next, but it wouldn’t be in politics.

“Not in politics, no,” she said. “I’m going to get an honest job.”

MICHAEL ALEXANDER may be reached at (714) 966-4618 or michael.alexander@latimes.com.