Newly blue Orange County may soon shift back after 48th district election

The results of California’s 48th congressional district candidates Harley Rouda and Michelle Steel will help determine whether Orange County continues its newfound Democratic trend or if the county will return to its Republican roots. WikiCommons

Orange County, which has held a long, conservative history as the home of 37th U.S. President Richard Nixon, broke for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential race. This marked the first time the county has backed a Democrat for president since the Great Depression. In 2018, all of Orange County’s congressional seats went to Democrats, including first-term congressman Harley Rouda, who defeated 15-term incumbent and Republican Dana Rohrabacher in the 48th congressional district.

Congressman Rouda serves as chair of the Subcommittee on Environment on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. To renew his congressional seat, Rouda now faces Republican candidate Michelle Steel, current chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Politico calls the race a toss-up, and a RealClearPolitics poll shows the candidates tied, with both pulling in 42% of active voters.

Steel is a South Korean immigrant whose policies include combatting California’s homelessness, opposing new taxes and preventing tax increases, according to her campaign website. Steel claims she will oppose any attempts to increase the federal gas tax and restore the state and local tax and mortgage interest deductions. The Steel campaign declined The Panther’s request for a formal interview.

“Overburdened Californians are paying some of the nation’s highest income, sales and gas taxes,” Steel’s campaign website reads. “This total failure of leadership by Governor Gavin Newsom and Sacramento legislators is hurting California families even more.”

According to Rouda’s reelection campaign website, he promotes putting “country over party,” lowering prescription drug prices and making healthcare more affordable.

“For a lot of folks in Orange County, healthcare is at the front of the mind,” said Michelle Bress, who serves as Rouda’s communication director. “We are looking at healthcare in the space of reproductive rights – to protect a woman’s right to choose – but we are also making sure we are fighting other public health crises.”

California's 48th congressional district is located in Orange County and includes Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Seal Beach and Laguna Niguel, as well as portions of Westminster, Santa Ana, Aliso Viejo, Garden Grove and Midway City.

Steel and Rouda differ in their initiatives regarding the American healthcare system. While Rouda promotes reducing the cost of healthcare, Bress claims Steel has not spoken up.

“President Trump’s administration is in the court attacking pillars of the Affordable Care Act that protect American’s with pre-existing conditions,” Bress told The Panther. “Congressman Rouda has been calling that out and voting on legislation to protect Americans with pre-existing conditions. Steel has remained silent.”

In addition, Rouda and Steel exhibit fundamental differences regarding women’s reproductive rights, as Steel identities as pro-life and Rouda identifies as pro-choice. Steel has also created a website dedicated to exposing Rouda’s alleged lies and scams, calling him a “con-artist Congressman.”

Despite Bress’ confidence in Rouda’s achievements, Steel has outraised him, according to the Orange County Breeze. After the second quarter filing deadline in July 2020, Steel reported raising almost $1.15 million between April and June, whereas Rouda reported raising approximately half that amount.

“From day one, Michelle Steel has outworked Harley Rouda in every way. She has a proven record of fighting for Orange County families and her message strongly resonates with voters,” Sam Oh, a general consultant to the campaign, stated to the Steel’s campaign. “Meanwhile, Harley Rouda has flip-flopped on major issues, repeatedly shown he is out-of-touch with this district … Rouda will soon be out of office.”

California's 48th congressional district election will help determine whether Orange County continues its newfound Democratic trend or if the county will return to its Republican roots.

“There are a lot of those black-and-white issues that I think is really important that voters know where they stand,” Bress said. “(Rouda) has been clear … He has been defending healthcare, building an economy that works for all, fighting corruption and protecting the environment.”

While Steel aims to revive Orange County’s declining Republican leadership, Bress emphasizes the importance of non-partisanship in Rouda’s campaign.

“(Rouda) has passed three bills through that were signed into law by President Donald Trump,” Bress said. “That’s really a testament to his work to put country over party and Orange County first.”

The results will come to fruition Nov. 3 when polls close at 8 p.m. Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received Nov. 6 to count in Orange County.