Republican Steven Choi Beats Incumbent Democrat Josh Newman in OC’s State Senate Race

Republicans picked up a California Senate seat this week after Democratic Sen. Josh Newman conceded the race to Republican challenger Steven Cho in a district where Democrats have an edge in voter registration.  

“With the most recent ballot updates, the numbers have made it clear that my campaign no longer has a viable path to a positive outcome in this election,” reads a Monday statement from Newman. 

Choi – a former Irvine mayor – noted the odds in a Tuesday post on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

“Despite the odds and uncertainties, the people of the 37th District have spoken about the future they wish to see for California,” reads Choi’s statement. 

The district is home to 621,000 registered voters – 36% of which are Democrats, 33% are Republicans and 24% are registered as no party preference, according to data from the OC Registrar of Voters. 

It comes as both political parties hold onto their respective seats in Orange County’s state Assembly delegation as all incumbents are on track to win reelection, according to results from the California Secretary of State. 

Politico reported that a University of California public employee union heavily spent against Newman leading up to Election Day – dropping nearly $700,000 in a week against him in October – after the outgoing senator refused to sign a bill that would’ve strengthened UC employees’ rights. 

The 37th Senate District is also a brand new district for both Choi and Newman after having been redrawn in the 2020 redistricting process. 

The district’s boundaries stretch through Irvine, Newport Beach, Fullerton, Costa Mesa, Lake Forest, Aliso Viejo and Laguna Niguel – along with pieces of Anaheim and Orange. 

Meanwhile, another Orange County election upset could happen in the 45th Congressional District, where Democratic challenger Derek Tran has seen his narrow lead regularly expanding over Republican Congresswoman Michelle Steel since last Saturday. 

[Read: All Eyes Are on Orange County’s Dead Heat Race in 45th Congressional District ]

Spencer Custodio is the civic editor. You can reach him at scustodio@voiceofoc.org. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerCustodio.

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