Democratic challenger Derek Tran added another 36 votes to his lead over incumbent Republican Rep. Michelle Steel, prompting him to declare victory in the race despite a slim advantage and an unknown number of ballots left to be tallied.
The latest election results update released Monday showed Tran’s lead inching up from 545 votes to 581 votes.
Tran added 26 votes to his lead in Saturday’s count of previously unprocessed ballots in Orange County, according to the Registrar of Voters. No ballots in the Los Angeles County portion of the district were counted Saturday. No ballots were counted in either portion of the district Sunday.
Ballot counting in the Los Angeles County portion will resume Tuesday, according to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office.
Tran leads 157,622-157,041, 50.1% to 49.9%, according to the Secretary of State’s office.
The consumer rights attorney and co-owner of a pharmacy with his wife Michelle trails in the Orange County portion of the district, 142,219-138,586, 50.65%-49.35%, but leads in the Los Angeles County portion — Artesia, Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens and a portion of Lakewood — 19,036-14,822, 56.2%-43.8%.
Despite the still-tight race, Tran issued a statement Monday declaring victory, calling it a “testament to the spirit and resilience of our community.”
“Throughout this campaign, I heard from voters who wanted representation that prioritizes our community’s unique challenges,” he said. “From the need for affordable healthcare and housing to the importance of an economy that includes everyone, people here are looking to the future with hope and determination. I look forward to representing that optimism and working tirelessly to ensure that our communities’ voices are heard in Washington.”
There has been no comment from the Steel campaign.
Tran led by 519 votes entering Saturday’s resumption of counting, 480 votes entering Friday’s, 397 votes entering Thursday’s, 314 entering Wednesday’s and 102 entering Tuesday’s. He took his first lead over the two-term incumbent Nov. 16, moving ahead by 36 votes after trailing by 11,363 Nov. 6, the day after the election.
Only previously unprocessed ballots in Orange County were counted Nov. 16. No ballots were counted Nov. 17.
Tran trailed by 7,590 votes Nov. 8, 6,901 Nov. 9, 6,128 Nov. 10 when only ballots from the Los Angeles County portion of the district were counted, 3,908 Nov. 11, 2,227 Nov. 12, 349 Nov. 13, 236 Nov. 14, and 58 Nov. 15.
It is not known how many ballots remain to be counted.