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These Southern California House races are still undecided. See election results updates

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These Southern California House races are still undecided. See election results updates


What to Know

  • Competitive House races remain undecided in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
  • The Southern California contests could play roles in determining the balance of power in the US House of Representatives.
  • Adding to the uncertainty, several California Republicans are representing districts that President Biden won in 2020.

Five of six key U.S. House election races in Southern California that could tip the balance of power remain undecided nearly one week after Election Day.

Over the weekend, more ballots were counted in competitive House races, including one separated by 1 percentage point, in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

As of Monday morning, control over the U.S. House of Representatives still hangs in the balance. There are a handful House of races across the country yet to be called.

Republicans were projected Wednesday to win control of the Senate.

While Democrats hold every major statewide office and outnumber registered Republicans in California 2 to 1, there are pockets of strong support for Republican candidates in parts of Southern California. Adding to the uncertainty, several California Republicans are representing districts that President Biden won in 2020, making the region a wildcard player in the makeup of the U.S. House.

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All 435 U.S. House seats are up for election in 2024. Entering Election Day, Republicans had 220 members to Democrats’ 212. There were three vacancies.

Scroll to see results updated Monday morning.

Democrat Whitesides holds slim lead

George Whitesides, the former CEO of Virgin Galactic, held a slim lead in this district north of Los Angeles, according to results early Monday.

Rep. Mike Garcia won the seat in 2022 by 6 percentage points over Democrat Christy Smith and held on to advance from the March primary. Whitesides finished second in the primary and had 50.9-percent of the votes counted early Monday in one of five California districts that voted for Joe Biden in 2020. Garcia stood at 49.1 percent.

It’s a district that favored Republican Brian Dahle by a slight margin over Gov. Gavin Newsom in the 2020 gubernatorial election.

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Garcia, who served in the U.S. navy and U.S. Navy Reserve, was first elected in a special election in 2020. The special election was called after Democrat Katie Hill, who defeated a Republican in 2018, resigned due to a sex scandal. He won re-election over Smith in 2022, 53.2 percent to 46.8 percent.

Whitesides served as NASA chief of staff in the Obama Administration.

The district in northern Los Angeles County includes Santa Clarita, Lancaster, Palmdale and other high desert communities.

Republican Rep. Young Kim defends House seat

GOP Rep. Young Kim will returns for a third term after winning the district two years ago by 14 percentage points. NBC News projected Kim as the winner in her race against former fire captain and union president Joe Kerr last week.

Kim is one of three Korean American women who were the first elected to Congress in 2020, served the California Assembly for two years. Kerr was unsuccessful in his 2022 bid for a state Senate seat and the Orange County Board of Supervisors in 2018.

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As of Monday, Kim had 55.9 percent of the vote to Kerr’s 44.1 percent.

The district includes parts of Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties The communities of Aliso Viejo, Corona, Chino Hills, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Tustin and Villa Park in the 40th District.

President Biden won the district by a slim margin in 2020.

President Biden won the district by a slim margin in 2020. Registered Republicans outnumber Democrats in the district by a margin of 38 percent to 34 percent, as of September.

Republican Rep. Calvert stretches narrow lead

Republican Rep. Ken Calvert held a nearly 3-percentage point lead early Monday in the race for the Riverside County Congressional district.

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The races is a rematch between the long-time representative and Democrat Will Rollins. The two were separated by less than 5 percentage points in the 2022 election.

Calvert is the longest-serving Republican in the California congressional delegation, having held his seat in this district east of Los Angeles since 1993. Rollins, a former federal prosecutor, gets another chance to unseat the incumbent in November.

Of note: Palm Springs has been added to this district since the last election.

The district also includes Menifee, Lake Elsinore, Rancho Mirage, most of Corona and Palm Desert.

GOP Rep. Steel leads in tight race for 45th House district

Republican Rep. Michelle Steel was leading Democrat Derek Tran — 51.1 percent to 48.9 percent — early Monday in Orange County’s 45th Congressional District.

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Steel easily advanced from the primary in her race against four Democrats, including second-place primary finisher Derek Tran, a veteran and civil rights attorney. Tran had only 16 percent of the vote to Steel’s commanding 55 in the crowded primary.

This district supported Joe Biden for president in 2020, but voted for Republican John Cox over Gavin Newsom in the 2018 gubernatorial election. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans, but Steel defeated a Democrat in 2020 before winning re-election in 2022.

District 45, which re-elected Steel with 52.4% of the vote in 2022, includes parts of Orange and Los Angeles counties. The district includes Garden Grove, Westminster, Buena Park and Artesia. Parts of Brea, Lakewood, Fullerton and Yorba Linda are in the district that’s shaped like a C and wraps around Anaheim.

Democrat Min takes slim lead in House District 47

This once solidly Republican district that stretches from Huntington and Newport beaches on the Orange County coast and inland to Irvine is the only open House seat among California’s most competitive races. The seat was vacated by Katie Porter, who was running for Senate, but did not advance from the March primary and is not seeking re-election.

Scott Baugh, who lost to Porter by less than 4 percentage points in 2022, and Democratic state Sen. Dave Min are in a tight race with Min holding a 1-percentage point lead early Monday.

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Baugh won the primary with 32 percent of the vote. Min was second at just under 26 percent with the remaining votes divided among other candidates.

The district had been represented by Republicans from the time it was created until Porter defeated then-Rep. Mimi Walters in 2018.

Democrat Rep. Levin leading in defense of 49th District House seat

Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Levin held 51.7 percent of the vote in his bid to defend his seat in this Southern California district that includes portions of Orange and San Diego counties. Republican Matt Gunderson, a car dealership owner who failed in a bid for state Senate in 2022, was at 48.3 percent.

Voters chose Levin in 2018 to replace longtime Republican Darrell Issa, who has since returned to Congress in a neighboring district. Levin has since been re-elected twice — by six points in 2020 and 5 points in 2022.

Cities in the district include Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas and the southern Orange County communities of San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Niguel and Ladera Ranch.

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Southern California police vow to quash planned ‘takeover’ event following recent chaos

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Southern California police vow to quash planned ‘takeover’ event following recent chaos


Huntington Beach police are vowing to prevent a potential “takeover” event being promoted across social media that they believe could get out of control.

Police said they became aware of the event from a flyer online advertising an “end of summer beach bash” in the city.

“Dear ‘Beach Bash’ organizers…” police said in an Instagram post Thursday. “Thanks for the flyer. We’ve seen it too.”

They continued, “We have no intention of allowing that to happen here.”

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No further details were provided about when the event was planned to take place or the exact location.

Police and the city of Huntington Beach said they’re working to prevent the event following similar events in Southern California that resulted in violence, vandalism and other criminal activity.

One chaotic event that was held in Newport Beach on the Fourth of July ended with more than 400 people being arrested, according to police. Some partygoers were seen fist fighting, while others allegedly vandalized property and local businesses, including a Pavilions grocery store.

Newport Beach police said social media posts drew a large influx of people to Newport Pier in a short amount of time, and the event got out of control.

Huntington Beach PD warned that anyone who organizes, promotes or participates in criminal activity associated with a takeover event may be arrested or prosecuted. Charges may include incitement to riot, vandalism, theft, assault, reckless driving, unlawful assembly, conspiracy or other applicable offenses.

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They also warned that juveniles would not be exempt from punishment, and parents or guardians may also be liable for damages caused by their child’s actions.

The HBPD Special Investigations Bureau has already identified individuals believed to be involved in organizing and promoting the event, according to police.

If you have information regarding this event, you are urged to contact Huntington PD’s Special Investigations Bureau at 714-536-5991.





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Popular California Fast-Casual Chain Mendocino Farms Opens 100th Location in Santa Barbara – edhat

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Popular California Fast-Casual Chain Mendocino Farms Opens 100th Location in Santa Barbara – edhat


Santa Barbara has become home to a milestone location for a popular sandwich and salad chain.

Mendocino Farms has officially opened its doors at La Cumbre Plaza, marking the company’s 100th location.

Located at 3851 State Street, the restaurant is Mendocino Farms’ first location in Santa Barbara.

Announcing its new store in a social media post, Mendocino Farms said the restaurant offers chef-curated sandwiches and fresh salads using seasonal ingredients.

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“Whether you’re fueling your next adventure or settling in for a sunny lunch with friends, we can’t wait to be part of your community. Here’s to our next chapter, together!” the business wrote on Instagram.

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

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The restaurant features a custom mural by local artist DJ Javier, as shared by Mendocino Farms in an Instagram post.

The store opened on June 30 and marked its first day with a host of activities to celebrate its launch.

The opening day featured a live DJ, activities such as ‘Rodeo Riviera’, a hat bar, live sandwich-making sessions with the chefs, and a postcard station.

The location is open daily between 10:30 a.m. and 9 p.m., according to its website.

Diners can enjoy a special summer menu along with the regular options of sandwiches and salads that Mendocino Farms is known for.

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In addition to its menu options, the restaurant also offers catering services with deliveries available from 10 a.m. onwards.

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The space occupied by Mendocino Farms earlier housed Panera Bread, which closed in 2025, per the Restaurant Guy.

About Mendocino Farms

The Los Angeles-based fast-casual chain is known for its selection of freshly made sandwiches, salads, wraps, and soups.

Founded in 2005, Mendocino Farms offers classic as well as limited signature items.

The company opened its first location below the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and has since expanded into a regional brand, according to the Restaurant Guy.

In addition to California, Mendocino Farms has locations in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Texas, and Washington, the company’s website shows.

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The restaurants feature a rotating menu of items, along with a range of kids’ menu items that are served with a beverage and a choice of side.

Additionally, the chain offers a variety of dessert options, packaged chips, and packaged beverages.

The company is known for sourcing all its ingredients from ethical local farms and small producers.

All meat and poultry items served are antibiotic-free and humanely raised, while eggs are sourced from cage-free farms, according to its website. Fruits and vegetables are hand-picked, and bread is locally and freshly sourced.

The menu includes a range of items to accommodate all types of diets, such as flexitarian, vegan, and gluten-free.

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Toddler sustains brain injury in fall after California childcare worker threw him into the air, lawsuit says

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Toddler sustains brain injury in fall after California childcare worker threw him into the air, lawsuit says


A fitness club is being sued after an employee at one of its childcare facilities in Southern California threw a 23-month-old child in the air and failed to catch him, resulting in a traumatic brain injury, according to the complaint.

Matthew and Elena Kittle filed the lawsuit July 2 against The Bay Club, an upscale club with multiple locations, including one in El Segundo, just south of Los Angeles.

They allege that while their son, identified by the initials C.K., was at the daycare center at The Bay Club El Segundo on March 17, 2025, an employee tossed him into the air — 6 feet above the ground — but failed to catch him, the lawsuit says. C.K. fell to the ground and hit his head on the hardwood floor, and the employee fell backward and landed on top of him, the suit says.

It says The Bay Club downplayed the severity of the fall to the boy’s parents. C.K. sustained a concussion and still experiences side effects from the fall, the suit says.

The complaint, filed against The Bay Clubs Co. LLC and Bay Club South Bay LLC, alleges negligence; negligence per se; negligent hiring, retention and supervision; negligent infliction of emotional distress; fraud — intentional concealment; intentional infliction of emotional distress; and battery.

Toddlers playing in a daycare playroom.
A screenshot from a video of the incident at The Bay Club’s El Segundo Clubhouse in El Segundo, Calif., in March 2025.via Rosen Saba Law

The Bay Club said it is unable to comment on ongoing litigation.

“At the Bay Club, the safety of our members, team members, and the families we serve is our highest priority,” it said in a statement.

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The Bay Club LLC owns and operates private fitness and country clubs across the West Coast, including locations in Oregon, Washington and California.

Its El Segundo location has the El Segundo Clubhouse, which the club’s website describes as a 14,000-square-foot childcare center, where kids participate in activities under supervision.

The day of the incident, C.K.’s father dropped him off at the El Segundo Clubhouse. He told staff members he would be at the Bay Club Manhattan Country Club, a mile away, for the next three hours, according to the complaint.

C.K. was injured at 9:20 a.m., the suit says.

Security video, which was included in the lawsuit, shows a female employee holding a child by his hands and swinging him between her legs. She then throws the boy over her head, letting go of the child’s hands, and fails to catch him. The child falls to the floor behind her, and the employee falls backward and appears to land on top of him, the video shows. The employee then appears to hold the child while they are on the floor.

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Other staff members react with shock and concern after the fall, the video shows.

The club called C.K.’s parents separately afterward. Matthew Kittle picked up the call at 9:30 a.m. and was told that C.K. had “fallen” and had since “calmed down,” the lawsuit says. He called back and said he would pick up his son at the end of his session.

At 9:45 a.m., the club called him again, suggested C.K. needed to be picked up and said that “they had not been able to settle C.K. down,” the filing says.

When Matthew Kittle picked up C.K. at 10:10 a.m., he found his son’s face was “badly bruised,” with his right eye swollen shut and his mouth swollen, the suit says. Once he was at home, C.K. was “extremely drowsy, lethargic, and irritable,” and his parents became concerned, the suit says.

Elena Kittle spoke with an employee, who described herself as the aquatics director, at 10:44 a.m., according to the filing.

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The aquatics director said that C.K. “was being held by an employee who fell over while she was in a squatting position” and that “C.K. was only about ‘1.5 feet above the ground’ when the fall occurred,” the suit says. She also said that C.K. wanted to “go to sleep immediately after the fall” and that employees “had trouble keeping him awake,” the suit says.

An hour later, C.K. was checked into the emergency room at a medical center in Torrance. There, the medical staff also questioned the accuracy of The Bay Club’s description of the incident, “because the injuries weren’t consistent with a fall from 1.5 feet,” the suit claims.

C.K. underwent a CT scan and a neurological exam and was diagnosed with a concussion, blunt head trauma and facial abrasion, the complaint says.

At 2:22 p.m. that day, Elena Kittle spoke with The Bay Club’s general manager, who said she reviewed video of the incident and also claimed C.K. fell from 1.5 feet, according to the filing.

The parents asked for the video, which they received March 21, 2025 — which left them “shocked” by the “severity of the fall” and by “the fact that the Bay Club tried to cover up the true nature of the incident,” the suit says. The complaint says the video showed the child was at least 6 feet in the air — not 1.5 feet, as the club had said.

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Weeks after the incident, C.K. had symptoms including sensitivity to light and sound, irritability, irregular sleep, lethargy and attachment issues, the suit says. A neurology specialist who examined him in April 2025 said C.K. was still experiencing concussion symptoms, the filing says.

“It was assessed that C.K. suffered a ‘definite concussion with a discrete enough force and clinical signs that indicate he’s in pain and behavioral changes,’” the complaint says. The filing says C.K. continues to experience symptoms, including loss of hearing.

The suit also alleges that the daycare center was not operating legally.

Under California law, childcare centers require licenses from the state Department of Social Services. Some child daycare programs can be exempt from licensing if parents and guardians are on the same premises and if they are not operated on certain sites, including malls or ski facilities.

The suit alleges The Bay Club does not fall under that exception because parents are not necessarily always on the premises. Children can be left at the Bay Club El Segundo Clubhouse while parents go to The Bay Club’s Manhattan Country Club a mile away, the suit says.

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The club’s website says a parent or guardian has to be on-site during a reservation.

The parents, represented by the law firm Rosen Saba, demand a jury trial, exemplary and punitive damages and civil and statutory penalties.



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