Incumbent Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Orange County) dominated the primary in California’s 45th Congressional District in Southern California.
Newcomer Derek Tran and Gardena City Councilwoman Kim Nguyen-Penaloza are fighting it out to advance to the general election.
With vote by mail and provisional ballots still being counted, Steel holds a commanding lead with 57.1% of the vote. Tran came in a distant second with 16.2% followed by Nguyen-Pelanloza with 14.1%.
Tran went to sleep with cautious optimisim.
“It is still to early to call the race for #CA45 but my team and I are feeling optimistic. Looking forward to sharing more good news tomorrow!” he posted at 11 p.m. Tuesday night.
Kim did not issue a statement on social media after the polls closed. Instead, she posted a photo of her holding her young daughter as she cast her votes.
“Over a year of hard work will be determined today,” she wrote.
Whether Tran, a Vietnamese American, or Nguyen-Penaloza, who is Vietnamese and Mexican make it into the general election, they have a high mountain to climb. They must convince the Democratic Party that they have a legitimate shot at unseating Steel to gain the financial support of the party.
In Silicon Valley’s 16th District Congressional race, Assemblyman Evan Low must hope that mail in and provisional ballots will catapult him into the general election.
As of this writing, he has 15.6% of the vote and is in third place behind Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian with 17.7% and former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo with 21.7%.
The top two vote getters advance to the general election regardless of party. All three are Democrats.
For the latest vote results, you can go here.
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