The seat is open after Rep. Katie Porter ran for Senate. Democrat Dave Min is up against Republican Scott Baugh.
"People don't like the proliferation of crime in our neighborhoods -- from shootings at South Coast Plaza, the murder at Fashion Island, and other murders around the city," said Baugh. "You have burglaries, 32 of them recently, so crime's a big deal. And then you have open borders. People don't like all the fentanyl coming in."
"Scott Baugh represents an old guard here in Orange County that takes extreme views on things like abortion," said Min. "Scott Baugh is someone who has said repeatedly he stands 100% with Donald Trump, has refused to recognize the 2020 election results as legitimate. So I think he's out of touch with the values of this district."
The district includes a large section of Orange County including Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Costa Mesa, and Newport Beach
Katie Porter apologizes after claiming California Senate race was 'rigged'
Katie Porter apologizes after claiming California Senate race was 'rigged'
Min has served Orange County in the California State Senate since 2020. Baugh, who's running on banning members of Congress from being able to trade stocks, lost to Katie Porter two years ago -- but only by three points, and was outspent significantly. Both candidates have accused each other of mischaracterizing their records.
"Dave Min will continue to say I want a national ban on abortion. My public record is clean on that. I would vote against a national ban on abortion. This is a states-rights issue and the states are sorting it out," said Baugh.
Said Min, "I have a strong record on climate, on gun safety, women's reproductive rights. But, like this area, I'm sensitive to the fact that there's too much regulation -- that taxes are too high and that police are not supported enough. So I've been moderate on those issues."
Millions of dollars are being spent by both sides, evidenced by nonstop television ads. And although the demographics have changed in Orange County, helping Democrats, the race is very much a toss-up.
"Even though most Californians will vote for a Democrat for president and vote for a Democrat for the House of Representatives, there are still Republican bastions in the state, and those have become the new battleground," said Dan Schnur, a political communications professor at USC and UC Berkeley.