Tran Unseats Steel in Tight Orange County Race
Democrat Derek Tran narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Michelle Steel in California’s 45th Congressional District, flipping the seat blue. The closely contested race, exceeding $34 million in spending, focused heavily on the candidates’ Asian American identities and aggressive anti-China rhetoric, a strategy criticized for “red-baiting” and distracting from substantive policy debates. Tran’s victory represents a rare leftward shift in a state trending right, contrasting with other recent California elections indicating a conservative swing on crime-related issues. The outcome highlights the complex dynamics of identity politics and the evolving political landscape in Orange County.
John Q. Hosedrinker