LOS ANGELES (AP) — Democrat Derek Tran on Wednesday ousted Republican U.S. Rep. Michelle Steel in a Southern California House district drawn specifically to give Asian Americans a stronger voice on Capitol Hill.
Steel said in a statement that “as with all journeys, this one ends and a new one begins.” When she won the seat in 2020, Steel joined Democrat Marilyn Strickland of Washington state and Republican Young Kim of California as the first Korean American women elected to Congress.
Tran, a lawyer and workers’ rights advocate and son of Vietnamese refugees, declared victory earlier this week. He said his win “is a testament to the spirit and resilience of our community. As the son of Vietnamese refugees, I understand firsthand the journey and sacrifices many families in our district have made for a better life.”
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The battle is one of the last to be decided this year, with Republicans now holding 220 seats in the House of Representatives while Democrats have 214 seats. The Associated Press has not declared a winner in California’s 13th District, where Democrat Adam Gray led the Republican representative. John Duarte with a few hundred votes.
Staal had an early lead after Election Day, but late counted ballots pushed Tran over the top.
Steel filed a declaration of candidacy with federal regulators on Monday, which could allow her to continue raising money. It was not immediately clear whether she planned to seek a return to Congress.
During the campaign, Tran warned of Republican threats to abortion rights. Steel opposes abortion, with exceptions for rape, incest or to save the life of the pregnant woman, but does not go so far as to support a federal ban. Tran also warned that newly elected President Donald Trump’s return to the White House would endanger democracy.
On Capitol Hill, Steel has outspokenly opposed tax increases and says she strongly supports Israel in its war with Hamas. “As our greatest ally in the Middle East, the United States must always stand with Israel,” she said. She has advocated for increased police funding and has highlighted her efforts on domestic violence and sexual assault.
Located in Orange County, southeast of Los Angeles, the largest demographic group in the district is Asian Americans, including the nation’s largest Vietnamese community. Democrats have a four-point registration lead.
Incomplete returns showed Steel was winning in Orange County, the largest part of the district. Tran’s margin of victory came from a small portion of the district in Los Angeles County, where Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly 2-to-1.
