Republican congressional candidate Michelle Steel is emerging as a leader over Democratic incumbent Harley Rouda to represent the 48th District in Orange County, according to media reports.
At last count, Steel was ahead 50.9% to 49.1% for Rouda.
“It indicates that we are, like the rest of the country, very divided in Orange County but that Republicans can in fact present good candidates to solidly reflect the values of their community and the public will respond,” said Republican Donald Wagner, mayor emeritus of Irvine, and current member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. “It's very interesting to see that Biden did not have very much, if anything, in the way of coattails in Orange County and for responsible governance that's a good thing.”
What’s at stake, Wagner said, is the future of responsible governance in Orange County.
“This seat is an effort to roll back the blue wave,” Wagner, a former Republican member of the California State Assembly, told the Southern California Record. “It is a historically Republican seat and to bring it back into the Republican fold is an important thing. We have a real good candidate in Michelle Steel to win it back for us.”
According to the Associated Press, Democrats lead Republicans for control of the House by 215 to 199, with 21 races not yet decided - including California's 48th District. Majority goes to the party who wins at least 218 seats.
Steel has been a member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors since 2015. Currently, she serves as chairwoman.
“Michelle is a very solid public servant,” Wagner said. “She is a very smart woman. She is a committed constitutional conservative. I think the public will get exactly what they voted for and that's a diligent, hardworking, very smart representative.”
Wagner worked with Steel on an ad hoc committee that the Board formed to help Orange County businesses safely reopen.
“She's the chairwoman of the board I serve on,” he said. “There aren't a whole lot of votes left out there to count. So, I'm reasonably confident Michelle will maintain the lead. I’m very happy that she won. I think the public will be very well served by Michelle.”
Steel’s victory comes amid accusations of fraud by Republicans in Democrat Joe Biden being considered by major media as president-elect.
“If it was a blowout we’d know and that'd be the end of it but for a close race, our registrar has a lot of votes to count and wants to do it,” Wagner said. “I truly believe that we have one of the premier registrars in the state in my dealings with him and by reputation. So, there's no doubt he wants to be as accurate as humanly possible and get it right."