By Tyler Sonderholzer
On November 8, all of California’s 52 United States House of Representative seats are up for election where voters will vote for one candidate to represent their congressional district for a two-year term. The 2022 election is called a midterm election, because it is in the middle of a president’s term, and these elections often see the president’s party lose seats in both chambers of Congress.
California’s jungle primary on June 7 narrowed down a list of candidates running for House of Representative seats to just the top two candidates.
There are four congressional districts centered in Orange County, CA-40, 45, 46 and 47. Republicans hold CA-40 and 45 while Democrats control CA-46 and 47. This is the first election cycle following redistricting after the 2020 census, which is the reshaping of all the congressional districts in the country.
California’s 40th district has incumbent Republican Representative Young Kim going against Democratic challenger Asif Mahmood; she is trying to win a second term after winning in 2020. Kim previously represented CA-39 under the old congressional map. She is one of 14 Republican representatives representing a district that President Joe Biden won in 2020.
Kim’s campaign is centered around lowering taxes, immigration reform and strengthening education, such as investing in and supporting STEM education and making postsecondary education more affordable.
Mahmood is running on protecting the right to choose by codifying Roe v. Wade, raising taxes on billionaires and corporations while opposing new taxes on families and creating gun safety laws such as reinstating the assault weapon ban and passing background check legislation.
Sabato’s Crystal ball rates this seat as “Likely Republican,” meaning Kim is likely to win re-election. The district is rated R+4, meaning that the district votes four points more Republican than the nation as a whole.
California’s 45th district has incumbent Republican Representative Michelle Steel in a tough re-election battle with Democratic challenger Jay Chen. Steel narrowly defeated former Democratic representative Harley Rouda in 2020. Steel is another Republican Representative who represents a district that Biden won. Steel previously represented CA-48 under the old congressional map.
Steel is running on lowering taxes, combating inflation and securing the southern border.
Chen’s campaign is focused on improving infrastructure, creating his healthcare plan and making college more affordable and accessible.
Cook Political Report ranks this seat as “Lean Republican,” meaning that Steel is favored to win re-election. The district has a D+5 rating.
California’s 46th district has incumbent Democratic Representative Lou Correa going against Republican challenger Christopher Gonzales. Correa has been in office since 2016 and has easily won re-election in 2018 and 2020. Redistricting did not heavily impact his district, compared to other districts like Steel’s, as he will continue to represent CA-46 if he wins re-election.
Correa is running on ensuring affordable and quality healthcare for all Americans, supporting small businesses and boosting infrastructure for future generations.
Gonzales’s campaign is centered around defending the Second Amendment, lowering taxes and protecting the border.
Sabato’s Crystal Ball ranks this district as “Safe Democratic,” meaning that Correa is heavily favored to win re-election. The district is rated D+29, the most Democratic district in Orange County and the only non-competitive seat.
California’s 47th district has incumbent Democratic Representative Katie Porter in a tough battle to win a third term against Republican challenger Scott Baugh. Porter was first elected in 2018 and won re-election in 2020. She previously represented CA-45 under the old congressional map.
Porter’s campaign is focused on keeping abortion legal, supports gun safety laws such as reinstating the assault weapons ban and mandatory background checks for all guns and investing in education to make college more affordable and expand early childhood education.
Baugh wants to combat illegal immigration, lower taxes and repeal the gas tax and reform the VA to ensure veterans are taken care of.
Inside Elections rates this district as “Lean Democratic,” meaning that Porter, like Steel, is slightly favored to win re-election. The district has a D+6 rating.
How to vote
Three of these districts may shape who controls the House of Representatives district so it is important that Californians register to vote. You must register to vote by October 24 to vote in the 2022 midterms. Californians who are aged 16 and 17 can also pre-register to vote, meaning they will automatically be registered to vote when they turn 18. Voters can vote by mail, in person on election day or through early voting.
