Democratic state Sen. Dave Min won an open congressional seat in coastal Orange County, defeating Republican business owner Scott Baugh despite recent gains in GOP voter registration.
California’s 47th district is one of the most competitive races in the country and has been seen by both parties as crucial to their efforts to control the House. Min’s victory means the Democrats will retain the seat they currently hold, but it may not be enough to win a majority. As of Tuesday night, Republicans were two seats away from winning the House.
Baugh conceded the race Tuesday in a statement to his supporters.
“I’ve been looking forward to working with Democrats, Republicans and @therealdonaldtrump to solve big problems like open borders, increased crime, and excessive federal spending but the voters have spoken and this is not what’s meant for me,” Baugh wrote.
Min said he will head to the nation’s Capitol with “open eyes”.
“We are facing the struggle of our lives to try to protect this country and its precious heritage and democratic institutions,” Min said in a statement.
“I will continue to fight for our rights, including women’s reproductive rights, and fight for a stronger and better future for young people, including building affordable housing, reducing gun violence, and doing everything we can to save our civilization.” from the climate crisis. The war has just begun.”
California’s 47th Congressional District is currently held by Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, who will leave Congress in January. His decision not to seek re-election and instead to run for the U.S. Senate, an unsuccessful bid in the March primary, set off a heated race to replace him. Porter narrowly defeated Baugh’s challenge in 2022.
The future of the seat hinges on a razor thin margin in the days following election day. At one point, only 600 votes separated the two candidates.
For years, Democrats have had a slight advantage in registering voters over Republicans in this affluent coastal district, which includes Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Newport Beach and Seal Beach.
But GOP registration gains have reversed that advantage this cycle. Registered Republican voters outnumbered registered Democrats by 383 in late October, according to the Orange County Registrar of Voters.
Still, the Cook Political Report, which tracks House races, lists the 47th District as leaning Democratic. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has included the race – considered a key winner for Democrats hoping to regain control of the House – on its “red to blue” list. The race was so important to Democrats that former President Clinton came to Orange County last month to campaign for Min.
Min, a former UC Irvine law professor, has served in the state Senate since 2020. During his congressional campaign, Min emphasized his desire to unify Roe vs. Wade and other federal laws he says will protect women’s rights to make their own health care decisions. He also advocated for the prevention of gun violence during his campaign, pointing to the law that established the prohibition of gun displays on government property.
Min broke with the leadership of the party, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, over the summer when he publicly supported Proposition 36, a controversial crime-fighting measure that would increase penalties for certain drug-theft offenses. California voters overwhelmingly approved the measure.
Min has faced a barrage of attacks related to his DUI arrest last year and last month his campaign signs were vandalized with anti-Asian slurs.
Baugh, a Huntington Beach attorney, led the Orange County GOP as its chairman from 2004 to 2015 and served in the California Assembly from 1995 to 2000. Baugh focused his campaign on border security, inflation and public safety.
In a television ad, Baugh shared the death of his younger brother from fentanyl in 2020 and emphasized that the first priority for Congress will be to address the fentanyl epidemic. Baugh has come under fire from Democrats for alleged misconduct in his 1995 congressional election and his opposition to abortion.
Min raised nearly $6 million for his campaign, while Baugh brought in more than $3.6 million. The largest amount of outside money has been spent on the race, with political committees contributing $4.4 million to support Min and $1.3 million to support Baugh, according to the Federal Election Commission.
Foreign groups also spent millions opposing the candidates. The Democratic-aligned House Majority PAC and the conservative United Democracy Project and Club for Growth Action are among the biggest spenders.
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