Recapping Results from Local Elections

Asmi Aggarwal

After the historic presidential election on Nov. 5 that had the media in a frenzy and citizens glued to their screens at 2:00 a.m. for updates, most individuals are very aware of Trump’s victory. With a complete Republican trifecta in Washington, D.C., Trump’s agenda has sparked dialogue across the most diverse demographics of America. However, amidst all of the commotion surrounding the happenings in D.C., it’s important not to forget about our own municipal candidates.

The local elections of Orange County—alongside many other surrounding areas—took place on the same day as the presidential race. Although there are many smaller political races for positions such as the mayor and city council members, the most notable state-specific elected officials generally fall into the categories of U.S. representatives and state senators.

As for our local U.S. representatives, the most relevant and closely followed races were those of the 40th, 46th and 47th Congressional Districts. Amongst many others, these districts encompass areas including Santa Ana, Irvine, Tustin, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Anaheim, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo and Orange—all of which are the hometowns of numerous OCSA students.

Focusing on the 40th District, Republican incumbent Young Kim won the election against Democrat Joe Kerr with a substantial majority, gathering over 10 percent more votes than Kerr. Having represented regions within Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Kim has served on several foreign affairs and financial committees within Congress; she has additionally been an active member within caucuses pertaining to specific countries and global regions, climate and racial inclusivity.

Democratic incumbent Lou Correa for the 46th District won by a landslide in his fight for a seat in the House of Representatives with over 25 percent more votes than his Republican opponent, David Pan. Correa, representing areas of Orange, Fullerton, Anaheim and most notably, Santa Ana, is particularly important to know as many of his policies—especially surrounding education—have the power to directly affect the future of OCSA. He has been actively involved in Congress since 2017, serving on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Homeland Security. Correa strongly advocates for equitable education, environmental wellbeing, inclusivity and immigration, security and public safety, accessible transportation, healthcare and economic support.

Finally, in CA-47, Dave Min—former State Senator of the 37th District—won in the congressional race against Scott Baugh with just under three percent more votes. As a result of the 2020 redistricting cycle, Min will continue to represent parts of Irvine, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Seal Beach and Costa Mesa under the 47th District. He has continuously expressed his support for reproductive rights, gun violence prevention, educational equity, climate action, pro-housing measures and various other issues.

In the California State Senate elections, one of the most popular races for the region of Orange County has been that of incumbent Democrat Senator Josh Newman and Republican Steven Choi for the 37th District. In a surprising turn of events, former mayor of Irvine and California State Assemblymember Steven Choi beat Newman and, as a Republican, flipped a seat in the Senate for the first time since 1980.

Although publicity and media coverage surrounding local elections has decreased substantially since November, continue to learn about who has been chosen to represent your counties and cities. Educate yourself on various policies and governmental bodies, and always remember to advocate for your opinions because your voice makes a difference.