Bono Mack Loses Close Race

House Communications Subcommittee chair, vice chair win re-election bids

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 11/7/2012 10:40:11 AM

Updated: 1:42 p.m. ET

Veteran House Communications Subcommittee member Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) has lost a close race to Democratic challenger Raul Ruiz. With 100% of the vote in, it was Ruiz's 83,402 to Bono Mack's 78,845, according to the website of California's Secretary of State, Debra Bowen. The Republican leaders of the still Republican-controlled House Communications Subcommittee won their re-election bids.

Bono Mack has been a strong advocate of Internet privacy and cybersecurity, as well as an opponent of government regulation of the Internet. She was a driving force behind the resolution championing the current multistakeholder model of Internet governance.

Though a generally deregulatory, pro-business Republican, she has been tough on the online advertising industry for not doing enough to give consumers control over targeted ads and their personal info. Bono Mack is also chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade.

Greg Walden (R-Ore.), chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Communications Subcommittee, was re-elected by a wide margin in Oregon's second district with almost 70% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of State.

Lee Terry (R-Neb.), vice chair of the Communications Subcommittee, is also returning, having won a bit of a squeaker with a little over 51% of the vote.

Fred Upton (R-Mich.), chair of the parent House Energy & Commerce Committee, will also be back.