Democrat Min to face Republican Baugh in California’s competitive 47th Congressional District

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Democratic state Sen. Dave Min and Republican Scott Baugh will face off this November in California’s competitive 47th Congressional District.

The coastal Orange County district, which includes famous surf breaks in Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach, is considered crucial for both parties in the fight to control the House. Incumbent Democratic Rep. Katie Porter did not seek re-election, instead running an unsuccessful campaign for U.S. Senate.

Baugh, a former state lawmaker, sailed through the primary with little Republican opposition after serving as the party’s nominee in 2022. He narrowly lost to Porter that year.

Min, meanwhile, faced intense competition from fellow Democrat Joanna Weiss in what became one of the state’s nastiest primaries. She criticized Min for a drunken driving arrest last year, while he attacked her husband’s work as a lawyer for the Catholic diocese.

California puts all candidates on the same primary ballot, and the top two finishers, regardless of party, move on to the general election.

“I am deeply humbled and grateful for the support from voters across Orange County,” Min said in a statement. “This victory is not just about winning an election, it is about the future we are collectively shaping. It’s about reclaiming the House for Democrats and Orange County families.”

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Despite the harsh tone of the primary, Weiss said she’s eager to work with Min to keep the seat in Democratic hands. It was her first run for political office.

“While this isn’t the outcome we hoped for, I know that we all worked our hearts out to win this election. We brought in new voters, and we mobilized communities across the district,” she said in a statement.

The 47th District was once solidly Republican and considered “Reagan country” for its close ties with former Republican President Ronald Reagan. But the region has changed over time, like much of California, becoming more diverse and Democratic.

Porter spent nearly $29 million defending the district in 2022, an astounding amount, and defeated Baugh by about 3 points.

North Carolina Rep. Richard Hudson, who heads the House Republican campaign arm, has called the 47th district “probably our best pickup opportunity in the country.”

Min has served since 2020 in the California state Senate, where he chairs the Committee on Natural Resources and Water. He also chairs a subcommittee on cybersecurity and identify theft prevention.

Baugh served as Republican leader in the state Assembly from 1999 to 2000 and later chaired the Orange County Republican Party.