Howard Berman Concedes to Brad Sherman

Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), a key champion for entertainment industry copyright initiatives in Congress, lost his race for a San Fernando Valley House seat to fellow Democrat Brad Sherman,

Berman issued a statement early this morning conceding the race.

A big upset was in the race for a Palm Springs area congressional seat, where Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) was losing her seat to Democrat Raul Ruiz. She had held the seat since she was elected to succeed her husband, Sonny Bono, for a seat representing the area. She since remarried Connie Mack IV, who himself lost a bid for a Senate seat in Florida on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif) was opening up a lead on his challenger, Bill Bloomfield, an independent, after a tight race in the early vote count.