Harris claims 1 runoff spot in California US Senate race

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- United States senator Barbara Boxer is retiring after 24 years in office. B

Based on the returns, Kamala Harris has 42 percent of the vote with 33 percent or precincts reporting. Loretta Sanchez has 16 percent.

This is an open primary race, which means voters can pick candidates from any party. The top two vote getters will advance to the general election and Harris has already clinched one of the spots on the November ballot.

RELATED: Bay Area election results: June 7, 2016

There was an exuberant celebration in San Francisco. Kamala Harris has been the frontrunner from the beginning and never looked back.

She came out and addressed her supporters just after 10 p.m. Tuesday night in San Francisco, where she went from the district attorney of the city to the office of attorney general of California. It appears, she has a good chance of becoming just the second African American woman to be a United States Senator.

"We have run a campaign, and we continue to run a campaign that is about fighting for the ideals of our country. Reminding folks of that great promise we articulated in 1776 that we are all and should be treated as equals," Harris said. "It will be about reminding people that we reject those people who talk about us versus them."

"We are going to win this us senate seat because we are going up and down the state of California and asking every voter in every place to come out and vote for us," said Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez.

RELATED: AP reports Hillary Clinton has delegates to secure nomination

Sanchez is from Orange County and she looks to be the second place finisher, the likely opposition for Harris in November. Sanchez did not talk about Harris by name, but did try to present herself as the most experienced of the two.

Either way, history will be made with two women of color running for the U.S. Senate seat. Sanchez would be the first Latina senator if she were to win.

It appears, no Republicans will be on the ballot, the first time that has happened for a statewide contest in California.

For full coverage on the presidential election, click here.

Have you voted? Share your pictures with us on social media using #abc7now!