California House race flips to narrow lead for Dem amid weekslong vote count

The California election results are still being tallied, and a surprising turn of events has occurred in a key U.S. House race. After two weeks of counting votes, Democratic challenger Derek Tran has taken the lead against Republican incumbent Michelle Steel in California’s 45th Congressional District. Tran currently holds a 102-vote lead with 94% of the votes counted, overturning Steel’s initial lead since Election Day.

Representing the 45th District since 2023, Michelle Steel was born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Japan. Prior to this, she represented the 48th Congressional District from 2021 to 2023. The 45th District encompasses parts of Los Angeles County and Orange County, including cities like Cerritos, Garden Grove, Buena Park, Brea, Lakewood, and Fullerton.

The outcome of this race is crucial as it could potentially flip the seat to the Democrats. With a narrow Republican majority in the House, every seat counts in shaping the future political landscape. President-elect Trump endorsed Steel in October, highlighting her as one of the nation’s strongest congresswomen.

The race between Steel and Tran has been the most expensive House race in the country, with a whopping $46 million spent, according to LAist. Tran, the son of Vietnamese refugees, has emphasized the importance of counting every vote to ensure that all Californians’ voices are heard.

As the final votes are still being counted, the size of the slim Republican House majority hangs on five uncalled races across the country. In addition to California’s 45th District, Democrats lead in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, while Republicans hold leads in Iowa’s 1st District, California’s 13th District, and Alaska’s At-Large Congressional District.

The Steel campaign has not yet responded to requests for comment on the latest developments in the race. The outcome of this race, along with the other undecided House races, will play a significant role in shaping the future composition of the House of Representatives.

Written by Andrew Mark Miller, a reporter at Fox News, this article provides insights into the ongoing election drama and the potential impact on the political landscape. Stay tuned for more updates as the final votes are tallied.