Republican Tony Strickland has moved into the lead for the first time in the 19th State Senate District race against Democrat Hannah-Beth Jackson, up by more than 1,500 votes Friday evening on a count posted on the California Secretary of State's Web site.

The tallies late this week mark the first time former Assemblyman Strickland (R-Moorpark) has led in the race, which both parties targeted this fall.

Strickland had 187,631 votes to 186,071 for Jackson, a former Assembly member from Santa Barbara. The percentages were 50.3 percent for Strickland to 49.7 percent for Jackson.

Thousands of uncounted ballots remain in the three counties partially or wholly within the district, though Strickland's campaign believes the bulk of them will come from his home base in Ventura County.

A win for Jackson would put state Senate Democrats one vote closer to a two-thirds majority in that chamber, making it easier to pass bills related to the budget and taxes.