OC Sen. Dave Min Announces Congressional Bid Wednesday

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Senator Dave Min just launched his bid for California's 47th congressional district, he announced on Twitter Wednesday.

“I began my career holding Wall Street accountable during the financial crisis and protecting families from foreclosure,” Min said on Twitter. “In the State Senate, I have fought for bold legislation to challenge politics as usual.”

The Irvine Democrat initially took office in 2020 to represent Orange County’s 37th State Senate District, which includes the cities of Anaheim Hills, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, Orange, Tustin, and Villa Park.

Min will face off against Former Democratic Rep. Harley Rouda and former Assembly GOP leader Scott Baugh, who came close to unseating Porter in November, as the announced candidates. Rouda and Baugh announced their candidacies last week.

If Min is elected to serve California's 47th congressional district, he would represent Costa Mesa, Irvine, Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, and Laguna Beach.

He is backed by incumbent Rep. Katie Porter, who announced her campaign for the California Senate early January, the Orange County Register reported.

"I endorse my friend Dave Min in his campaign for Congress and have every confidence that his campaign will ensure that California's 47th Congressional District continues to be represented by a progressive Democrat," Porter said in a statement.

"I've been impressed with his record in the California State Senate, where he has been a progressive leader on issues like gun violence prevention, reproductive rights, and environmental protection."

Min said his state Senate district includes about 80% of the congressional district and that it has a "robust Korean community, and one of the highest percentages of Asian and Pacific Islander voters in the country at 19%."

Rouda issued a statement saying, "California needs leaders who are laser-focued on solving our environmental crisis, who will put bipartisanship ahead of brinksmanship, and who know how to grow businesses and our economy. I'm proud to have done just that -- not only in Congress, but for decades as a business owner and in our community."

Rouda said he would "welcome Dave Min to this race, and I look forward to continuing to share my vision for Orange County -- putting country before party, and commonsense results ahead of political posturing."

Rouda said about 70% of the voters in the congressional district he served from 2019-2021 are in the newly drawn district. Rouda, who unseated longtime incumbent Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, said his district included more GOP voters than the current district.

Porter announced on Jan. 10 that she will run in 2024 for the U.S. Senate seat occupied by Dianne Feinstein. The 89-year-old Feinstein's term expires in 2024, but she has not announced if she will run for reelection.

City News Service contributed to this report.