Here’s what is being said.
The race for California’s 45th Congressional District has become one of the most contentious and closely watched battles in the nation, with allegations of potential voter fraud gaining traction among Republican leaders and conservative pundits. Democrat Derek Tran has taken a narrow lead over incumbent Republican Rep. Michelle Steel, with just a 36-vote margin separating the two candidates.
As of the latest ballot count from the California Secretary of State’s office, Tran is leading Steel by 152,981 to 152,945 votes, each candidate holding exactly 50% of the total vote share. This marks a dramatic shift from earlier in the week when Steel enjoyed a comfortable lead of over 11,000 votes. The race remains too close to call, and the final outcome is still pending as the state continues to process ballots.
California’s 45th District includes parts of both Orange and Los Angeles counties, and the results have followed regional lines. Steel has maintained a solid lead in Orange County, which is a key Republican stronghold, while Tran has made significant gains in Los Angeles County, where Democrats traditionally have more support.
Over the course of the week, Steel’s lead has steadily eroded. On November 6, she was ahead by over 11,000 votes, but that margin has shrunk significantly with each new ballot update. By November 8, the gap had narrowed to just over 7,500 votes. The trend continued, with Steel’s lead slipping to 6,900 on November 9, and further narrowing as more ballots from Los Angeles County were counted. As of Thursday, Tran’s lead had grown to 36 votes, causing widespread concern among Republicans about the possibility of irregularities in the vote-counting process.
Given the importance of this race in determining the balance of power in Congress, Republican officials are calling for increased transparency and oversight of the ongoing count. With both sides digging in and the stakes higher than ever, the outcome of this race could have lasting implications for California’s political landscape.
