Republicans may be on track to take half of Orange County’s congressional seats, boosting the county’s GOP delegation to levels not seen since 2018.
In the 45th and 47th district, viewed as two of the most competitive congressional races in the entire country this year, Republicans are currently leading in both races.
Republican Scott Baugh was winning against Democrat state Senator Dave Min by 0.4% – with just a gap of just over 600 votes between the two in the 47th District.
Min’s campaign sent out a text around the same time as today’s update saying the race was too close to call while seeking donations to finance a recount.
Republican Congresswoman Michelle Steel is leading her opponent Derek Tran by 3.8% in the 45th District, according to updated ballot counts Thursday evening.
Tran and Min initially led the race Tuesday night in the first ballot counts, but later in the night both Steel and Baugh pulled ahead of their opponents.
[Read: Steel vs Tran: Election Night Results 2024]
If those results hold, it’ll be the first time since 2018 that Republicans have held at least half of the county’s congressional seats.
In 2018, all of Orange County’ Republican Congressional delegation were swept by Democratic challengers.
Steel’s district stretches from Brea, Yorba Linda and Placentia West to parts of LA county including Cerritos, Artesia and Hawaiian Gardens then South to Garden Grove and Westminster – encompassing OC’s Little Saigon.
The 47th District stretches from Seal Beach down the Coast to Laguna Beach and also stretches east to Irvine.
In the 49th District, Mike Levin is set to hang onto his seat again with nearly 51% of the vote leading Republican challenger Matt Gunderson by a margin of over 5,000 votes.
The district also includes parts of San Diego county which the Secretary of State website did not yet include in their latest update as of 5:30 p.m.
Beyond the three most competitive races in the county, incumbents from both parties are set to hang onto their seats as of the Thursday night results.
In the 38th District, which largely sits in LA County but includes the city of La Habra, Democrat Linda Sanchez is set to hang onto her seat, currently holding 57.3% of the vote.
In the 40th District, which takes up the eastern side of the county, Republican Young Kim was on track to win with 56.4% of the vote.
The district also includes parts of Riverside county which the Secretary of State website did not yet include in their latest update as of 5:30 p.m.
Democrat Lou Correa was leading with about 61% of the vote in the 46th congressional district, keeping a seat he’s held since 2017.
Noah Biesiada is a Voice of OC reporter and corps member with Report for America, a GroundTruth initiative. Contact him at nbiesiada@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @NBiesiada.
Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC reporter and corps member with Report for America, a GroundTruth initiative. Contact him at helattar@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @ElattarHosam.
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