LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Lance Ray Christensen's lead over George Yang grew to 3,950 votes in the race for the second spot in the November ballot for state superintendent of public instruction, according to figures released Monday by the Secretary of State's Office.

Christensen, an education policy executive, has 487,927 votes (11.5%) to 483,977 for Yang (11.4%). Incumbent Tony K. Thurmond leads the nonpartisan race with 1,965,773 votes (46.2%).

Christensen began Monday's vote count with a 582-vote lead over Yang, a software architect. Christensen led by 1,899 votes when Saturday's vote count concluded. Christensen was in third when Friday's vote count concluded, 2,124 votes behind Yang.

Republican Robert Howell's lead over Democratic Assemblyman Marc Levine increased to 19,307 votes in the race for second for insurance commissioner.

Howell, a cybersecurity equipment manufacturer, led by 10,819 votes when Monday's count began, 15,097 when Saturday's count concluded and 10,947 when Friday's concluded.

Howell has 819,354 votes (18%) to 800,047 (17.6%) for Levine, D-San Rafael. Incumbent Democrat Ricardo Lara leads with 1,664,870 votes (36.5%).

In the attorney general's race, former Assistant U.S. Attorney General Nathan Hochman extended his lead over fellow Republican Eric Early, an attorney and business owner, to 80,289 votes after leading by 76,067 at the start of Monday's vote count, 75,878 at the conclusion of Saturday's vote count and 70,295 at the end of Friday's.

Hochman has 858,174 votes (18.4%) to 777,885 (16.7%) for Early. Appointed Democratic incumbent Rob Bonta leads with 2,553,425 (54.7%).

An estimated 2,240,611 ballots remain unprocessed, according to the Secretary of State's Office.