Democratic challenger Derek Tran continues to see his narrow lead expand over Republican incumbent Rep. Michelle Steel in the 45th Congressional District after he declared victory Monday night in one of the country’s closest House races.
On Tuesday evening, Tran’s lead grew to 613 votes over Steel, according to a tally of votes posted online by the Orange County and Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters.
Orange County and Los Angeles voters will determine just how much of a majority Republicans will have in The House of Representatives.
As of Tuesday evening, Republicans have just one seat over the 218-seat majority threshold, according to results from the Associated Press.
The race is also one of only three in the country still not called by the AP as of Tuesday night.
After Monday’s results update, Tran was ahead of Steel by 581 votes and declared victory over Steel – crediting his victory to the spirit and resilience of the immigrant community in a district that stretches from Los Angeles County and encompasses OC’s Little Saigon.
“Throughout this campaign, I heard from voters who wanted representation that prioritizes our community’s unique challenges,” Tran said in a Nov. 25 news release.
“From the need for affordable healthcare and housing to the importance of an economy that includes everyone, people here are looking to the future with hope and determination.”
Staff on Steel’s reelection campaign did not a return request for comment Tuesday.
Steel — a former Orange County supervisor — has held the House seat since 2020, while Tran, a consumer rights attorney, is a political newcomer.
If Tran wins, Democrats will have claimed five of the county’s six Congressional seats in this election, the most they’ve held since 2018 when they managed to win every House seat in the county.
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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