The Associated Press reports that Derek Tran, a first-time Democratic candidate, and Army veteran, has won California’s 45th Congressional District. He defeated Trump-backed Rep. Michelle Steel, in what was considered to be one of the Golden State’s most closely watched races.
Tran ran against Steel in a district that was traditionally conservative but has in recent years become a swing district. The district includes parts of Orange County including Fountain Valley Westminster and Garden Grove.
Asian Americans are the majority of voters.
Steel’s first election to Congress was in 2020, when she won the 48th District in her neighboring district, defeating incumbent Democrat Harley Rhouda and turning the district red.
After defeating Republican incumbent Mimi Waters, Katie Porter, a Democrat, turned the district from red to blue in 2018.
Steel won the seat back in 2020, and retained it by a small margin in 2022. This makes CA-45 a Republican-dominated district that Biden won by around 6% in 2020.
