Weeks of vote-counting in California House race gives Democrats a narrow lead

Votes are still being counted in California two weeks after the election, where a Democratic challenger has taken a lead over a Republican incumbent in a key U.S. House race.

In California's 45th Congressional District, where Steele has held the lead since Election Day, Democrat Derek Tran holds a 102-vote lead over Republican Michelle Steele, with 94% of votes counted.

Steele, who was born in Seoul, South Korea and raised in Japan, has represented the 45th Congressional District since 2023 and previously represented the 48th Congressional District from 2021 to 2023.

The district straddles Los Angeles and Orange counties and includes portions of Cerritos, Garden Grove, Buena Park, Brea, Lakewood, and Fullerton.

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“Thank you so much to everyone who continues to support our campaign as we count the remaining votes for #CA45,” Tran posted on Monday. “With more than 10,000 legally cast votes outstanding, we have a duty to ensure all Californians have their voices heard.”

A victory for Mr. Tran, the son of Vietnamese refugees, would be a decisive turning point for the Democratic Party. Democrats will not take control of the House in January, but there are still several races being called in hopes of chipping away at the 218-212 Republican lead. .

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U.S. Rep. Michelle Steele (R-Huntington Beach) speaks to supporters at her campaign office in Buena Park, California, on September 26, 2022. (Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)

President-elect Trump endorsed Steele in October, calling her one of the nation's strongest women in Congress.

The race between Steele and Tran was the most expensive House race in the country, with more than $46 million spent, LAist reported.

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Democratic Congressional candidate Derek Tran spoke on Jon Lovett's podcast “Lovett or Leave It.” (YouTube screenshot)

Across the country, five Lok Sabha elections have yet to be called. Of these, Democrats lead in two, and Republicans lead in three.

In addition to California's 45th place, Democrats also lead in Ohio's 9th Congressional District, with incumbent Rep. Marcy Kaptur leading by about 1,000 votes with 99% of votes counted.

Republicans hold leads in Iowa's 1st Congressional District, California's 13th Congressional District, and Alaska's Largest Congressional District.

Steele's campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.