tiosmedia.info@gmail.comThe AP called the race on Wednesday with 99% of the vote counted, with Tran having 50.1% compared to Steel’s 49.9%.
Tran flipped the competitive Orange County district in one of the most competitive and most expensive races in the country, beating Steel by just over 600 votes, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Steel conceded in a message posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, saying she was proud to have assisted “First Generation Americans, (stood) up to our adversaries, and defend(ed) human rights,” adding: “Everything is God’s will and, like all journeys, this one is ending for a new one to begin.”
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After Tran’s victory, Republicans held 220 seats in the House, while Democrats held 214—an even closer margin than in the current House, which Republicans control by seven. The Republican margin is set to shrink even more, at least temporarily as Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., will likely resign to take positions in the Trump administration. Florida’s solidly red first congressional district seat will also be vacant until a replacement for former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., takes office.
Key Background
Steel was first elected in 2020, when she defeated the Democratic incumbent and became one of the first three Korean American women to serve in Congress, NBC News reported. Tran is an Army veteran of Vietnamese descent who ran on a platform centered around defending women’s health rights, improving education, improving access to healthcare and defending rights and values against “Donald Trump and his MAGA allies.” Steel ran on a platform focused on addressing crime, stopping inflation, lowering taxes, securing borders, ending sanctuary cities and a number of other issues. California’s 45th congressional district covers parts of Orange County and Los Angeles County, and is home to the largest population of people of Vietnamese descent outside of Vietnam, according to the LA Times. Tran will be the first Vietnamese American to represent the district.
What To Watch For
The AP to call its last House race. As of Wednesday evening, the only race yet to be called was California’s 13th District. Democratic candidate Adam Gray was leading incumbent Republican Rep. John Duarte by fewer than 200 votes as of Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. EST, according to the state of California.
Crucial Quote
“Only in America can you go from refugees fleeing with nothing but the clothes on your back to becoming a member of Congress in just one generation,” Tran said in a statement after he declared victory Monday—despite the AP not yet calling the race.
