Connie Conway, left, on the campaign trail

It's time to focus on the state Senate and Assembly.

Returns from the California Secretary of State's office show state Sen. Jeff Denham of Atwater easily fending off the recall engineered by Senate Pro-Tem Don Perata.

Perata, a Democrat, pulled the plug on the recall in early May, but it remained on the ballot and Denham, a Republican, continued to actively campaign to retain his seat.

Of about 46,000 ballots counted in the district at 10 p.m., the recall was failing by a 3-to-1 margin.

Figures for the 34th Assembly District Republican primary showed Tulare County Supervisor Connie Conway leading challengers Bob Smith and Becky Maze.

Maze is attempting to succeed her termed-out husband, Bill, for the seat.

The winner of the Republican primary is all but assured of defeating the Democratic nominee, Desmond Farrelly, in the heavily Republican district.