Two California conservatives crushed their Popularity based challengers Monday, drawing the GOP nearer to controlling the U.S. House.
Reps in office Republican incumbents Ken Calvert (R) and Michelle Steel (R) defeated their
Democratic rivals to maintain Republican control of the 41st and 45th congressional districts in California.
Calvert won reelection to the U.S. House for California’s 41st Congressional District, defeating Francis Conole in the New York House race.
In the midterm elections on November 8, the incumbent Representative faced off against Democrat Will Rollins. According to the Associated Press, Calvert had a 5,500-vote advantage over Rollins with 80% of the votes cast.
Calvert is the dean of the California Republican Delegation and was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1992.
Steel prevailed over Democrat Jay Chen to keep representing the 45th Congressional District in California. With 69% of the votes considered on Monday night, Steel had 53.8% to Chen’s 46.2%, the Related Press detailed.
Steele tweeted, “I am humbled to continue to fight for this community in Congress,” to express gratitude to the residents of her district. I am grateful to the #CA45 voters for placing their faith in me. Let’s get started.”
Steele defeated Democrat Harley Rouda to win the 2021 election. She sits on the Committees on Education and Labor and Transportation and Infrastructure.
California still has ten open House races nearly a week after Election Day.
The Democrat Adam Gray has a 761-vote lead over Republican John Duarte in the open seat in District 13 with nearly 80% of the votes counted, according to the Associated Press. This is the most competitive race that remains in California.
Republicans need 218 seats to control the House. Currently, they hold 217 seats, while Democrats hold 205.
