Democratic challenger Derek Tran has slightly widened his lead over incumbent Republican Congresswoman Michelle Steel Monday in one of the most competitive congressional districts in the country – the 45th Congressional District.
As of Monday evening, Tran was 122 votes ahead of Steel after taking a narrow lead in the race over the weekend, according to results posted by California’s Secretary of State.
[Read: Derek Tran Pulls Ahead of Rep. Michelle Steel in OC’s Tightest Congressional Race]
Both candidates are holding onto 50% of the vote in one of only five races for the House of Representatives left in the country that have not been called by the Associated Press as of Monday evening.
In a Monday statement, Tran’s campaign manager, Gowri Buddiga, said the campaign was optimistic about the outcome.
“Voters in Orange and Los Angeles County deserve to have their voices heard, and we are confident that as the remaining vote-by-mail, provisional, and conditional ballots are tallied, Derek Tran will emerge victorious,” reads the statement.
The district stretches from Los Angeles County – including Cerritos, Artesia, Hawaiian Gardens and Lakewood – into Orange County and encompasses Little Saigon.
Monday’s results come after Democrats already won Orange County’s other competitive congressional race in the 47th district after Republican Scott Baugh conceded to Democrat State Senator Dave Min earlier this week.
[Read: Dave Min Wins OC’s Coastal Congressional Seat]
It looks like Democrats will take a majority of the county’s congressional seats – a trend that began in 2018 after all of Orange County’ Republican Congressional delegation were swept by Democratic challengers.
In the 49th District, Mike Levin is set to hang onto his seat again with nearly 52% of the vote, leading Republican challenger Matt Gunderson by a margin of over 16,000 votes.
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 about 60% 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 about 55% of the vote.
Democrat Lou Correa was leading with about 63% of the vote in the 46th congressional district, keeping a seat he’s held since 2017.
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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