Fight For CA's 45th Congressional District Heats Up

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — The race to see who will represent California's 45th Congressional District is heating up, with Republican Michelle Steel and Democrat Derek Tran fighting to see who will make it to the finish line.

The district, which represents a sizable swath of Orange and some of Los Angeles counties, includes cities such as: Fountain Valley, Westminster, Garden Grove, Cypress, Buena Park, Cerritos, Artesia, La Palma, Placentia, Hawaiian Gardens, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, and parts of Brea, Lakewood, Fullerton and Yorba Linda.

As of Sept. 24, The Cook Political Report, Decision Desk HQ and Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball listed the race as a "toss-up." Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzalez listed the race "tilt Republican."

Two-term incumbent Michelle Steel was first elected in 2020 after serving on the Orange County Board of Supervisors and the California Board of Equalization, according to her bio. Her campaign focuses heavily on lowering inflation and saving American taxpayers money.

She emigrated from South Korea to the United States as a young adult with her mother and two sisters, and said she became interested in politics while watching her single mother struggle to fight a tax bill from the State Board of Equalization.

"Americans deserve a government that is always looking out for their best interests, and advocating for policies that will make life easier and more affordable – not more expensive and more restricted," Steel said on her website. "I’m a true conservative that believes the best way to grow our economy is by supporting small businesses and working people, and I’ll never back down from that belief."

Steel has come under fire for co-sponsoring a 2021 declaring that life begins at conception. She has also faced scrutiny for signing an amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe vs. Wade before later withdrawing her name from the resolution.

Newcomer Derek Tran is a U.S. Army veteran and consumer rights attorney. Tran said he aims "to put people ahead of politics, protect our Democracy, and ensure everyone, no matter what neighborhood they come from has the opportunity to succeed without fear of their freedoms being taken away," according to his website.

While Tran has amassed enthusiasm among Democrat voters, he has faced scrutiny for his lack of experience in the government sector.

To learn more about Michelle Steel and Derek Tran, visit their websites.