Derek Tran

In the 2024 House race for CA-45, Derek Tran (D) defeated Michelle Steel (R) 50.1% to 49.9%. Derek Tran received 158,264 votes compared to 157,611 for Michelle Steel, a razor-thin margin of just 0.2 points — among the closest races in the country.

Derek Tran defeated the incumbent Michelle Steel (R), which is a significant political event — most incumbents win re-election by wide margins. This was a general election upset. The 2024 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket. Given the narrow margin, this seat is likely to remain competitive and attract heavy investment in the next cycle.