Republicans challenge Democrat incumbents in tight congressional races
PUBLISHED: Nov. 4, 9:51 p.m. PT | UPDATED: Nov. 5, 6:49 p.m. PT
Six Democrats won every House seat in Orange County’s 2018 midterm election, which contrasted with the county’s conservative history. However, current 2020 general election projections show two Republican candidates pulling ahead. Graphic by HARRY LADA, Art Director
Republican candidates lead in two of the six congressional districts in Orange County as of the evening of Nov. 4, which contrasts with the blue sweep seen in 2018.
In the highly anticipated 48th Congressional District race between incumbent Democrat Harley Rouda and Republican Michelle Steel, Steel leads by less than 1% with 98% of votes reported, according to The Associated Press. In 2018, Rouda defeated four-term 48th Congressional District incumbent and Republican Dana Rohrabacher. This was the first time Rohrabacher lost his position in the House of Representatives since he was first seated in 1989.
An alleged Westminster, California, fake voting center was identified on Beach Boulevard and boasted signs promoting Steel’s campaign. A video posted on social media shows two people, wearing shirts with Steel’s campaign logo, carrying a box filled with what appeared to be torn mail-in ballot envelopes. The Steel campaign did not respond to The Panther’s requests for comment.
Ty Bailey, an Orange County resident who shot the videos of the alleged fake voting center, told The Panther he started filming after he saw a handwritten “Vote Here” sign on Beach Boulevard. Bailey said the Orange County Registrar of Voters could not confirm an official voting center at that location. After Bailey saw the two individuals allegedly throwing away a box seemingly filled with torn ballots, he said he called the Westminster Police Department. The District Attorney’s investigation is still underway.
“If Michelle Steel is involved, then she shouldn’t be able to serve in any position,” said Bailey, a member of Clarity OC, a grassroots organization that supports political transparency. “There (was) a bunch of people with Michelle Steel shirts, and we already know that Steel is corrupt. We had to report and pursue this as much as we can, as hard as we can and as long as we can until we know that for sure nothing is wrong.”
Democrat incumbent Gil Cisneros trails behind Republican candidate Young Kim in the 39th district by less than 1%. Approximately 93% of ballots in the district have been counted, according to The Associated Press.
Although the 39th and 48th congressional elections continue, Fred Smoller, a Chapman University campaigns and elections professor, foresees two Republican victories, despite the closeness of the races. Given Orange County’s uncertain political leaning after the past two elections, Smoller explained that the county isn’t blue or red – it’s purple.
“Orange County is going to continue to have very competitive campaigns,” Smoller said. “It’s been conservative for a long time. Republicans just routinely won and held these positions. Democrats in 2018 were able to win, but the long-term trend is that (they) will remain competitive.”
In the 45th and 46th congressional districts, both incumbent Democrats defeated the challenging Republicans: Katie Porter defeated Republican Greg Raths by 7.8%, and Lou Correa defeated James Waters by 36.6%. Similar events were seen in the 47th and 49th districts: the incumbent Democrat candidate Alan Lowenthal defeated Republican John Briscoe by 26.2%, and Democrat incumbent Mike Levin defeated Republican Brian Maryott by 8.2%.
While polling places are still counting ballots, when the dust settles, at least one Republican representative may return to Orange County districts. Despite 2018’s Democratic sweep, the county’s conservative history may lend itself to back a share of Republican victories in Orange County – typical to long-time residents.