Southern California House Races Remain Undecided: Live Updates and Key Districts to Watch – NBC Los Angeles

Southern California House Races Remain Undecided: Live Updates and Key Districts to Watch – NBC Los Angeles

November 11, 2024 Catherine Williams - Chief Editor News

Competitive House Races in Southern California

Several U.S. House races in Southern California remain undecided, influencing the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Key Races and Their Status

  • CA-45: Michelle Steel vs. Derek Tran
    • Republican Rep. Michelle Steel is leading Democrat Derek Tran with 51.1% to 48.9% in Orange County’s 45th Congressional District. This district includes parts of Orange and Los Angeles counties and has supported both Democratic and Republican candidates in past elections.
  • CA-41: Ken Calvert vs. Will Rollins
    • Republican Rep. Ken Calvert holds a nearly 3-percentage point lead over Democrat Will Rollins in Riverside County. This is a rematch from the 2022 election, with Calvert having held the seat since 1993.
  • CA-27: Mike Garcia vs. George Whitesides
    • Democrat George Whitesides has a slim lead over Republican Rep. Mike Garcia, with 50.9% to 49.1%, in a district north of Los Angeles. This district favored Joe Biden in 2020 but has historically been competitive.
  • CA-40: Young Kim vs. Joe Kerr
    • Republican Rep. Young Kim has secured her seat with 55.9% of the vote against Democrat Joe Kerr in a district that includes parts of Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. Kim won the district by a significant margin, despite it being narrowly won by President Biden in 2020.
  • CA-47: Scott Baugh vs. Dave Min
    • Democratic state Sen. Dave Min holds a 1-percentage point lead over Republican Scott Baugh in the 47th Congressional District, which was previously represented by Katie Porter. This district spans from Huntington and Newport beaches to inland Irvine.
  • CA-49: Mike Levin vs. Matt Gunderson
    • Democratic Rep. Mike Levin leads Republican Matt Gunderson with 51.7% to 48.3% in a district that includes portions of Orange and San Diego counties. Levin has defended his seat successfully since 2018.

Impact on the U.S. House

These races are crucial as they could determine the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives. Despite Democrats holding every major statewide office in California, Republican candidates are competitive in several Southern California districts, many of which President Biden won in 2020.

Ballot Counting

Many ballots remain uncounted in these districts, with significant numbers in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. The counting process continues, with results expected to change as more ballots are processed.

Historical Context

Some of these districts have historically been Republican but were won by Democratic candidates in recent years. For example, the 47th District was once solidly Republican but was represented by Democrat Katie Porter until she vacated the seat.

Voter Demographics

These districts have diverse voter demographics. For instance, the 45th Congressional District has a large Asian American/Pacific Islander population, nearly 40% of the residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau[5].

In summary, these competitive races in Southern California are pivotal in determining the control of the U.S. House of Representatives, with the outcome hanging in the balance as more ballots are counted.