California House Race Remains Unresolved as Vote Count Continues

Democrat Derek Tran holds a slim lead over Republican Michelle Steel in a closely watched contest with ballots still being counted.

Derek Tran, a Democratic challenger, leads Republican incumbent Michelle Steel by 314 votes in California's 45th Congressional District.
The race is critical for Democrats aiming to narrow the Republican majority in the U.S. House, which stands at 218 to 212.
California's slow ballot counting process, attributed to signature verification and mail-in voting, has drawn criticism and fueled disinformation.
This contest, one of the most expensive in the country, highlights the shifting political landscape in Orange County, a former Republican stronghold.
If victorious, Tran would become the first Vietnamese American member of Congress, representing a district with a significant Vietnamese population.