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Derek Tran Flips CA-45, Defeats Michelle Steel After Extended Vote Count

Nov 27, 2024, 09:19 PM

Democrat Derek Tran has unseated Republican incumbent Michelle Steel in California's 45th Congressional District, flipping the seat to the Democrats after a protracted vote count extended 21 days past Election Day. The Associated Press projected Tran's victory on November 27, with Tran securing 50.09% of the vote (157,642 votes) to Steel's 49.91% (157,053 votes), a narrow margin of approximately 589 votes. Tran declared victory earlier when leading by less than 500 votes, while Steel conceded the race in a statement that made no mention of her opponent or the election results, saying, "Everything is God's will and, like all journeys, this one is ending for a new one to begin." The race was one of the most expensive House contests in the nation and took place in a competitive Orange County district with a significant Vietnamese American population. The result represents a gain for House Democrats in a key Southern California swing district. Notably, Steel opened a 2026 Congressional account moments after Tran declared victory.