California Democrat Rep Poised to Lose to GOP Challenger

The GOP looks poised to flip a congressional seat in California currently held by a Democrat.

According to The Washington Free Beacon:

Republican challenger Michelle Steel is poised to unseat California Democratic representative Harley Rouda as the GOP looks to expand on its unexpected House gains.

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The Democrat has failed to thwart Republican attacks over his scandal-plagued business record. As a real estate executive, Rouda terminated his employees’ health care and retirement benefits. His businesses were subject to hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax liens over a 17-year period.

Republican candidates are also leading in two additional California swing districts and are close behind in a third. Former Republican congressman David Valadao leads Rep. T.J. Cox (D.) by nearly 4 points, with an estimated 83 percent of the vote recorded, according to the New York Times. Cox also faced criticism on tax issues. The Democrat in March voted against a bill to require members of Congress to disclose tax liens while owing nearly $145,000 in unpaid federal income taxes. Months earlier, Cox wrongfully claimed his $1 million second home in Maryland as his primary residence when selling the property.

In California’s 39th Congressional District, incumbent representative Gil Cisneros (D.) trails Republican challenger Young Kim by more than 3,500 votes. And in the state’s 25th district, Rep. Mike Garcia (R.) is within 0.4 points of liberal state legislator Christy Smith. Just months ago, he became the first California Republican to flip a Democratic seat since 1998, beating Smith by 12 points in a May special election.

Steel’s current lead is 7,300 votes and The Free Beacon estimates that 7,000 votes remain. If the GOP continues to pick off these close races it will be one of the best years on record for Congressional Republicans who will only look to retake the majority in 2022.