Orange County Supervisor Michelle Steel defeated first-term Democratic Rep. Harley Rouda in California’s 48th Congressional District after the incumbent conceded on Tuesday.
Steel narrowly won the election with 50.9% to Rouda’s 49.1%, with 95% of precincts reporting.
“When I ran for Congress in 2018, it was the first time I’d ever run for political office. But after creating thousands of jobs in a lifetime in business, I couldn’t stand by any longer as our political system tore itself apart,” Rouda, a former real estate executive, said in a statement.
Rouda also suggested he’d seek a rematch against Steel in the 2022 midterm elections.
“While one campaign ends today, another is just beginning. I look forward to having voters compare my opponent’s two years in Congress with my accomplishments on November 8, 2022,” he continued.
Thanks to the incredible energy brought by our thousands of grassroots volunteers, I was proud to be the first Democrat ever to represent #CA48.
Serving the people here has been the honor of my life. https://t.co/up1YVZTnuU
— Harley Rouda (@HarleyRouda) November 10, 2020
Rouda was among seven House Democrats in 2018 to flip Republican seats in California, with four of them based in whole or part in traditionally Republican Orange County. Steel challenged the first-term lawmaker this cycle in an effort to return the seat to Republican hands…
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