Democrat Dave Min beats Republican Scott Baugh to win O.C. House seat

Democratic state Sen. Dave Min received an open congressional seat in coastal Orange County, defeating Republican enterprise proprietor Scott Baugh regardless of latest beneficial properties in GOP voter registration.

California’s forty seventh Congressional District is likely one of the best races within the nation and was seen by each events as essential of their makes an attempt to regulate the Home. Min’s victory means Democrats will retain a seat they at present maintain, nevertheless it will not be sufficient for them to win the bulk. As of Tuesday night time, Republicans have been two seats away from profitable the Home.

Baugh conceded the race Tuesday with a press release to supporters.

“I used to be wanting ahead to working with Democrats, Republicans and @therealdonaldtrump to unravel critical issues like an open border, growing crime, and runaway federal spending however the voters have spoken and this isn’t what is meant for me,” Baugh wrote.

Min stated he’ll head to the nation’s Capitol “with eyes huge open.”

“We face the wrestle of our lives to attempt to defend this nation and its most cherished legacies and democratic establishments,” Min stated in a press release.

“I’ll proceed to face up for our rights, together with the reproductive rights of ladies, and to struggle for a stronger and higher future for younger folks, together with creating extra reasonably priced housing, decreasing gun violence, and doing all we will to rescue our civilization from the local weather disaster. The struggle has simply begun.”

California’s forty seventh Congressional District is at present held by Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, who can be leaving Congress in January. Her choice to not search reelection and to as an alternative run for the U.S. Senate, a bid that fell brief within the March major, kicked off a passionate competitors to exchange her. Porter narrowly beat back a challenge by Baugh in 2022.

The way forward for the seat hinged on a razor skinny margin within the days after election day. At one level, solely 600 votes separated the 2 candidates.

Democrats for years had a slight voter registration benefit over Republicans on this prosperous coastal district, which incorporates Costa Mesa, Huntington Seashore, Irvine, Newport Seashore and Seal Seashore.

However GOP registration beneficial properties flipped that benefit this cycle. Registered Republican voters outnumbered registered Democrats by 383 folks as of late October, in line with the Orange County Registrar of Voters.

Nonetheless, the Cook dinner Political Report, which tracks Home races, listed the forty seventh District as leaning Democratic. The Democratic Congressional Marketing campaign Committee included the race — thought of a key win for Democrats hoping to regain management of the Home — on its “purple to blue” checklist. The race was such a precedence for Democrats that former President Clinton came to Orange County final month to marketing campaign for Min.

Min, a former UC Irvine legislation professor, has served within the state Senate since 2020. Throughout his congressional marketing campaign, Min emphasised his need to codify Roe vs. Wade and different laws on the federal degree that he says would shield the rights of ladies to make their very own healthcare selections. He’s additionally advocated for gun violence prevention throughout his marketing campaign, pointing to laws he was writer of that banned gun exhibits on state property.

Min broke from occasion management, together with Gov. Gavin Newsom, over the summer season when he publicly supported Proposition 36, a controversial anti-crime measure that can improve penalties for sure theft and drug offenses. California voters have overwhelmingly approved the measure.

Min has confronted a barrage of assaults associated to his DUI arrest last year and final month had his campaign signs defaced with anti-Asian slurs.

Baugh, a Huntington Seashore legal professional, led the Orange County GOP as its chairman from 2004 to 2015 and served within the California Meeting from 1995 to 2000. Baugh centered a lot of his marketing campaign on border safety, inflation and public security.

In a tv commercial, Baugh shared about his youthful brother’s death from fentanyl in 2020 and emphasised that his first precedence in Congress could be to deal with the fentanyl epidemic. Baugh has confronted assaults from Democrats for allegations of misconduct in his 1995 election to the Meeting and his opposition to abortion.

Min raised practically $6 million for his marketing campaign, whereas Baugh introduced in additional than $3.6 million. Important exterior spending was pumped into the race, with political motion committees contributing $4.4 million to assist Min and $1.3 million in assist of Baugh, in line with Federal Election Fee filings.

Exterior teams additionally spent tens of millions opposing the candidates. The Democratic-aligned Home Majority PAC and the conservative United Democracy Venture and Membership for Progress Motion have been among the many high spenders.