Associated Press (link):

Tucked into last week's otherwise predictable California election results lay a cautionary tale about the election year's most uncovered issue: illegal immigration.

Republican Rep. David Dreier, the 24-year Los Angeles-area veteran who chairs the powerful House Rules committee, won re-election to his House seat with just under 54 percent of the vote, down from 64 percent in 2002. His Democratic opponent, Cynthia Matthews, won almost 43 percent of the vote, despite spending just over $31,000 in her campaign, compared to more than $900,000 spent by Dreier. A Libertarian candidate won 3.5 percent of the vote.

While Dreier's winning margin over Matthews can't really be characterized as close, it was his worst showing since 1980...

[...it was because of Political Human Sacrifice... ...AP reporter searches for this article's Voice of Stupidity and finds it in occasional KCAL political commentator Allan Hoffenblum:]

"Immigration is a very emotional issue, and there is a group of voters who have an intense, intense dislike for illegal immigrants," said Allan Hoffenblum, editor of the California Target Book (californiatargetbook.com). "Dreier has the same position that Bush has, which a lot of right wingers don't like, and it's easier to go after Dreier than Bush..."

..."The Republican establishment strongly, strongly supports [Dreier]," Hoffenblum said. "Dreier would have Schwarzenegger walking precincts for him, and the president would probably join him."