West
California House race flips to narrow lead for Dem amid weekslong vote count
Votes are still being counted in California two weeks after the election, and a Democratic challenger in a key U.S. House race has just taken the lead against the Republican incumbent.
With 94% of the votes counted, Democrat Derek Tran now leads GOP Rep. Michelle Steel by 102 votes in California’s 45th Congressional District after Steel had maintained a lead since Election Day.
Steel, born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Japan, has represented the 45th District since 2023 and represented the 48th Congressional District before that, from 2021 to 2023.
The district spreads across Los Angeles County and Orange County and includes the cities of Cerritos, Garden Grove, Buena Park and parts of Brea, Lakewood and Fullerton.
SIZE OF SLIM REPUBLICAN HOUSE MAJORITY HANGS ON 5 UNCALLED RACES
GOP Rep. Michelle Steel, left, and challenger Derek Tran, right (Getty Images)
“I am so thankful to all those who continue to support our campaign as we count the remaining votes in #CA45,” Tran posted on X Monday. “Over 10,000 lawfully cast ballots are outstanding, and we owe it to every Californian to ensure their voice is heard.”
A victory for Tran, the son of Vietnamese refugees, would be a crucial flip for Democrats, who will not control the House in January but are attempting to chip away at a Republican margin that stands at 218 to 212 with several races still to be called.
YOUNGEST HOUSE REPUBLICAN-ELECT REVEALS HOW GOP WON BACK AMERICA’S YOUTH
Rep. Michelle Steel, R-Huntington Beach, speaks to supporters at her campaign office in Buena Park, Calif., Sept. 26, 2022. (Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
President-elect Trump endorsed Steel in October, calling her one of the nation’s “strongest congresswomen.”
The race between Steel and Tran was the most expensive House race in the country with more than $46 million spent, LAist reported.
Democratic congressional candidate Derek Tran spoke on Jon Lovett’s podcast “Lovett or Leave It.” (YouTube screenshot)
Five House races have yet to be called across the country. Democrats lead in two of them, and Republicans lead in three.
In addition to California’s 45th, Democrats lead in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, where incumbent Rep. Marcy Kaptur is up by roughly 1,000 votes with 99% of ballots counted.
Republicans hold leads in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, California’s 13th District and Alaska’s At-Large Congressional District.
The Steel campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Read the full article from Here
SEATTLE, WA – JULY 4: Dominique Malonga #14 of the Seattle Storm drives to the basket during the game against the Portland Fire on July 4, 2026 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. (David Ryder / NBAE / Getty Images)
SEATTLE – Carla Leite scored 20 points to lead the Portland Fire to a 77-72 victory over the Seattle Storm on Saturday night.
Leite made 4 of 8 shots and all 12 of her free throws, adding four assists for Portland (9-12). Bridget Carleton totaled 14 points and seven rebounds, while Megan Gustafson added 10 points and nine boards.
Dominique Malonga had 22 points to pace Seattle (5-17) and Natisha Hiedeman scored 15. Awa Fam had 12 points, while fellow rookie Flau’jae Johnson was held to a season-low one point.
Leite had two three-point plays to start the third quarter and Frieda Buhner came off the bench to score all nine of her points over a six-minute span as Portland turned a 32-30 halftime lead into a 54-47 advantage. Gustafson sank a 3-pointer for a 41-38 lead and the Fire never trailed again.
Emily Engstler had all nine of her points and six of her eight rebounds by halftime, helping Portland outscore Seattle 22-10 in the second period for a two-point lead at the break.
Hiedeman had nine points in the first quarter and Seattle used a 13-2 run over the final 5:27 to take a 20-10 lead before falling to 0-12 against Western Conference opponents this season.
Portland went 1-3 on a four-game trip.
Up next
Seattle: At Los Angeles Sparks on Monday.
Portland: Hosts Las Vegas Aces on Thursday.
The Source: Information in this story came from The Associated Press.
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Dominique Malonga scores career-high 28 points, but Seattle Storm lose ninth-straight 94-89 to Fire
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