Derek Tran Declares Victory in Tight California 45th Congressional District Race

Tran, leading by 581 votes, could become the first Vietnamese American to represent the largest Vietnamese community in Congress.

Democrat Derek Tran has declared victory over Republican incumbent Michelle Steel in one of the closest U.S. House races this cycle, despite ongoing vote counting in California's 45th District.
Tran currently holds a narrow lead of 581 votes, with 50.1% of the vote to Steel's 49.9%, as ballot counting continues in both Orange and Los Angeles counties.
If elected, Tran would make history as the first Vietnamese American to represent the nation's largest Vietnamese community in Congress.
Both campaigns are raising funds for a potential recount while working to address flagged ballots through a curing process, with a December 1 deadline for voters to fix ballot issues.
California's extended ballot-counting timeline has drawn criticism from Republicans, including unsubstantiated claims of fraud, though state officials affirm the integrity of the process with rigorous verification measures.