Derek Tran Secures Narrow Victory in Orange County House Race
Democrat Derek Tran has narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Michelle Steel in a highly contested California House race, flipping a key district in Orange County. Tran, a first-time candidate and son of Vietnamese refugees, leveraged his background to appeal to Asian American voters, a demographic Steel had previously performed well with. The race, which became the most expensive House battle in the country with $46 million spent, saw Tran criticize Steel's support for a national abortion ban, while Steel attacked Tran's legal career. Steel conceded after a prolonged vote count.