HUNTINGTON BEACH Councilmember Tony Strickland (Tribune photo).

Tony Strickland is now polling a majority of the votes in the primary election to fill a vacant seat in the State Senate representing the 36th District.

According to the Orange County Registrar of Voters, Strickland – a Republican serving as a member of the Huntington Beach City Council – now has garnered 69,824 votes, or 51.65 percent as of Wednesday night.

If he – or another candidate – ends up with a total of at least 50 percent of the ballots plus one – that person is elected and can avoid a runoff in April.

In second place is Democrat Jimmy Pham (37,125 votes, 27.64 percent), followed by Democrat Julie Diep (18,878 votes, 13.96 percent) and Republican John Briscoe (9,368 votes, 6.93 percent).