Derek Tran Flips Key California House Seat from GOP

Democrat Derek Tran narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Michelle Steel in a closely contested House race in California's Orange County, flipping the 45th Congressional District blue. The race, marked by aggressive anti-China messaging and a focus on Asian American identities, saw over $34 million spent. Tran, an Army veteran and son of Vietnamese refugees, emphasized his heritage in appealing to the district's significant Vietnamese electorate. The campaign's rhetoric, criticized for "red-baiting," highlighted generational divides within the Asian American community.