California Elections

Orange County Woman Charged for Illegally Registering Dog to Vote

A Costa Mesa woman, Laura Lee Yourex, has been charged with five felonies by the U.S. Department of Justice for illegally registering her dog, Maya, to vote in California elections in 2021 and 2022. The dog’s vote was counted in the 2021 gubernatorial recall election but was rejected in the 2022 primary. Prosecutors uncovered social media posts featuring the dog with an “I voted” sticker and ballot, along with Yourex’s self-reporting of the actions to the Orange County Registrar of Voters. The charges include perjury, procuring a false document, registering a non-existent person, and casting a ballot when not entitled to vote, with a minimum of six years in prison if convicted.

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Tran Ousts Steel in Tight Orange County House Race; Democrats Poised for House Gains

In a hard-fought California congressional race, Democrat Derek Tran defeated incumbent Republican Michelle Steel, securing a narrow victory after a protracted vote count. Tran’s win marks a significant upset for Democrats and makes him the first Vietnamese American to represent the district, home to Little Saigon. The intensely competitive race, one of the most expensive in the nation, saw both candidates heavily target Asian American voters, highlighting the district’s demographic complexities. Tran’s victory contributes to Democrats’ success in flipping several key Republican-held seats in California.

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