Midterm results: Republican Michelle Steel wins race for Southern California House seat
Jack Birle
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Rep. Michelle Steel (R) secured a second term by defeating community college trustee Jay Chen (D) in California’s 45th Congressional District.
Steel won a tight race for the Southern California district that voted for Joe Biden in 2020, 52% to 46%. The district covers parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties and the cities of Cerritos and Westminster.
The race was defined by bitterness between the two Asian American candidates, with each accusing the other of nasty attacks.
Chen allegedly mocked Steel’s accent, saying, “You kind of need an interpreter to figure out exactly what she’s saying.” Steel immigrated to the United States from South Korea.
Steel has hammered Chen, who is the son of Taiwanese immigrants, for approving a Chinese government-sponsored language program while he was a member of the Hacienda La Puente school board.
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Steel’s focus in her campaign was working to curb high inflation, combating China, and lowering taxes.