The congressional race in California’s coastal district of Orange County is gearing up to be a contentious matchup, with the electorate closely divided.

Candidates are vying for voters in the 47th Congressional District to replace Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), who won’t seek reelection as she seeks the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).

TYRANNY OF THE MAJORITY, OR THE MINORITY OF ONE

Orange County, once a Republican stronghold, has more registered Democratic voters than Republicans, 37% to 34%, according to 2021 state registration data.

While Porter secured her third term in Congress in November in the vastly redrawn 47th District, statewide Republican candidates still won the Orange County vote. Two Republican candidates are campaigning to replace Porter.

Scott Baugh

Former state Assemblyman Scott Baugh is the California Republican Party and Republican Party of Orange County’s selected candidate trying to flip the Golden State’s 47th District.

Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) narrowly defeated Baugh in the closely divided coastal district, 51.7% to 48.3%, as stated in the election results.

Baugh represented the state’s coastal 67th District in the California State Assembly from 1995 to 2000, serving as the chairman of the Republican Party of Orange County in 2004.

Announcing his run in January for a second attempt at winning over California’s 47th District, Baugh has raised over $1 million for his 2024 congressional campaign. Baugh has currently racked in the largest amount in individual contributions.

“Voters are rightfully upset with the dysfunction in Washington and deserve better,” Baugh said in his campaign launch. “I am ready to go to work to restore thoughtful, conservative representation to our part of Orange County.”

Baugh’s campaign website hosts a video emphasizing his focus on keeping down crime in Orange County.

“It happens all too often and near here – a gang attack, a senseless act of violence,” Baugh said. “It’s vile and it’s wrong. That’s why I joined law enforcement, parents, and teachers to stop this violence and give our kids hope for their future.”

“As chairman of our Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership, we are providing kids a chance to succeed in the classroom and in life while preventing crime,” Baugh said.

Baugh chairs the Orange County Gang Reduction and Intervention Partnership which is a collaboration between Orange County law enforcement agencies and officials to prevent minors from becoming involved in criminal street gangs.

During his previous bid for California’s 47th District, Baugh emphasized his support for lowering the national debt, strengthening border security, and restoring operations that were negatively affected by the pandemic.

“Nancy Pelosi, Katie Porter, and their radical left-wing allies in Congress just don’t get it,” Baugh said in a September 2022 campaign video. “Their solution to every problem is to tax you more, spend more, and impose more oppressive lockdowns that restrict our freedoms. I’m running to change that to secure the border to slash the national debt and keep our schools and businesses open.”

Baugh has racked up dozens of notable endorsements, including support from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN), House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and multiple other GOP members.

Max Ukropina

Max Ukropina, founder of Newport Beach credit monitoring app Float, entered the race in April as the second Republican candidate vying to flip the seat currently held by a Democrat. The Orange County native said if elected, he’ll support lower taxes, stand up for small businesses, and fight to keep the area safe.

“It’s one of the most expensive places to live,” Ukropina told the Washington Examiner. “It’s the greatest place to live, but the costs are really against it.”

Ukropina emphasized that people shouldn’t have to make the decision between buying gas or getting groceries, adding, “the federal government is making it even harder to get that done.”

“Spending is out of control. Taxes are out of control. Inflation is a direct cause of that,” Ukropina said. “The debt limit agreement that happened a little over a month ago did nothing, actually. We increased the debt by actually a trillion dollars in under five weeks.”

The total national debt sits at around $32.54 trillion as of July 12, $1 trillion more than the $31.47 trillion level reported on June 2, according to Treasury Department data. President Joe Biden signed the debt ceiling plan into law on June 3, suspending the $31.4 trillion borrowing limit until January 2025.

Ukropina called attention to Orange County’s safe communities, with areas within the district often ranked as some of the safest cities in America.

“It’s a wonderful place, and it’s also a great case study in what it takes to have a safe community,” Ukropina said. “You drive 20 minutes north and it’s a complete hellscape and they’ve allowed lawlessness in their streets.”

Ukropina said that areas close to the 47th District have residents “being poisoned by fentanyl, and rampant homelessness and crimes openly happening in the street and no one’s doing anything about it,” adding that when you come to Orange County, it’s a different story.

“I’m running for Congress, but the same people that support policies that are happening in San Francisco and Los Angeles are running in this race,” Ukropina said.

Ukropina also claimed he will bring his business background to Washington, D.C., acknowledging that because he is a political outsider, that means he’s “not beholden to anyone but the voters.”

The Republican hopeful said the district needs “a candidate that understands the issues that are important to Orange County from a Republican standpoint,” pointing out that Orange County is still a conservative area.

According to the Federal Election Commission, other Republican candidates that filed include Steven Cotton, James Griffin, and Brian Burley, who ran in multiple primary elections and a general election in the past.

The Democratic field currently has more declared candidates than Republicans as the party seeks to keep Porter’s seat blue.

Dave Min

State Sen. Dave Min was the first major Democratic candidate in January to toss their hat into the ring for the 47th District.

The California native currently represents the 37th State Senate District, elected in 2020. Earning his law degree from Harvard University, Min went on to serve as the Senate Banking Committee counsel for Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) before returning to the Golden State to work as an assistant law professor at UC Irvine.

“I’m proud of the record I’ve built on the environment, gun violence prevention, women’s reproductive rights, the economy, and fighting hate,” Min said in his campaign announcement.

Min quickly received Porter’s endorsement, with the Democratic representative saying in a statement, “Dave has proven that he can win in this area while delivering on a progressive agenda with real results.”

Several other prominent California Democrats have also endorsed Min, including Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, according to his campaign site.

Min raised nearly $1 million since entering the race at the start of the year, with his campaign reporting his fundraising efforts don’t take money from corporate PACs.

The progressive candidate is running his campaign on supporting women’s rights, condemning the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and pushing for climate change action as the chairman of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee.

Min has introduced legislation focused on tackling safety issues in public transit systems. In partnership with Stop AAPI Hate, Min proposed a bill requiring 10 of California’s largest public transit systems to create a community survey tool collecting data about ridership safety.

Min faced troubles with law enforcement in May when he was arrested in Sacramento for driving under the influence, having a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit. He was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol for driving through a red light without his headlights on, according to police reports.

“To my family, constituents, and supporters, I am so deeply sorry,” Min wrote on Facebook. “I know I need to do better. I will not let this personal failure distract from our work in California and in Washington.”

Min’s arrest caused some Democratic lawmakers to pull their support, including former Democratic congressman Harley Rouda, who was a contender in the congressional race before pulling out in April for health reasons.

“While we thank Dave Min for his service to the party, with his recent DUI he should immediately withdraw from the race,” Rouda said in a statement.

Ukropina told the Washington Examiner while Min’s situation is disappointing, it’s a matter of the Democratic Party.

“I’ll let the Democrats have their own party issues,” Ukropina said. “It’s deeply disappointing what happened with Dave Min,” adding, “you hate to see that lapse in judgment, but if Katie Porter wants to keep her endorsement, it does not affect me.”

“While I approach this matter with the utmost respect for all parties involved, I believe it would have been appropriate for Katie Porter to address and withdraw her support of Dave Min following his DUI incident,” Dom Jones, a Democratic candidate in the race, told the Washington Examiner, adding “we cannot condone or endorse such behavior.”

The Washington Examiner reached out to Min’s campaign.

Joanna Weiss

Joanna Weiss, founder and president of Women for American Values and Ethics, announced in February that she’s seeking to represent the district to keep the seat Democratic.

Weiss, an Orange County native from a military family, is a former litigator and former adjunct law professor at Chapman University. She founded WAVE in 2016, which has supported multiple California Democratic candidates, including Porter, Rep. Mike Levin, Sen. Tom Umberg, and Min.

“I’m the founder and past president of WAVE – Women for American Values and Ethics,” Weiss said in her campaign launch. “A grassroots organization that has activated thousands of Orange County residents to support Democratic candidates and progressive issues.”

Weiss is focusing her campaign on progressive ideals and influencing policy at a local level, such as supporting a fair economy.

“I’m running because I believe in affordable healthcare and a strong and equitable economy for all,” Weiss said in her campaign launch.

Like most Democrats, Weiss is pushing a strong message of protecting reproductive rights, pinning it as a top issue for this election cycle.

“We need affordable housing now and for future generations,” Weiss said. “We need to reduce homelessness, and we must address the devastating effects of climate change, and we need to protect women’s reproductive rights.”

Weiss received an endorsement from EMILY’s List, one of the nation’s top abortion rights groups which commonly helps candidates with fundraising and support.

“As we look forward to the next election, we know that defending U.S. House seats with a record of strong, Democratic pro-choice leadership will be a critical part of protecting and restoring our freedoms in the coming years,” EMILY’s List said in a June press release.

Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL), chairwoman of the Democratic Women’s Caucus and a longtime women’s rights activist, has also endorsed Weiss.

She served on the board of directors for the Public Law Center for over 10 years and provided pro bono legal work “helping domestic violence survivors, seniors on fixed incomes, and special needs students.”

Her campaign raised over $400,000 during the second quarter, bringing in $354,007 in the first. Weiss said 90% of the support came from California residents and she didn’t take funds from corporate PACs.

“I’m running because we need fresh new leaders who are focused on the big challenges we face as a country and here in Orange County,” Weiss said.

The Washington Examiner reached out to Weiss’s campaign.

Dom Jones

Dominique “Dom” Jones, a Huntington Beach business owner and community activist, entered the race in January. She’s been a resident of the district for nearly 10 years. If elected, she’ll be the first African American woman elected to Congress from Orange County.

If elected, Jones plans to work together with her congressional colleagues to address Orange County’s most pressing issues, such as ensuring everyone has financial stability.

“By working towards a balanced budget and implementing targeted measures to stimulate sustainable economic growth, we can mitigate inflationary pressures and create an environment conducive to affordability and prosperity,” Jones told the Washington Examiner.

Jones also seeks to tackle the root causes of inflation and rising costs in California by pushing measures aimed at addressing healthcare, education, and housing.

“By promoting competition and transparency in these sectors, we can curb excessive price hikes and empower individuals and families with greater control over their expenses,” Jones said. “Additionally, I will collaborate with my colleagues to explore innovative solutions, including tax reforms and strategic investments, to alleviate the burden of inflation and enhance the purchasing power of everyday Americans.”

Jones serves on Planned Parenthood’s Electoral and Advocacy Committee to support pro-abortion rights candidates.

Since January, Jones has been the 2nd Vice President of the Democrats of West Orange County. Collaborating with the Democratic Party Of Orange County to support candidates such as Porter’s reelection last year, Jones is also an alternate on the Central Committee, which is a group of local Democrats elected by voters in each Assembly district.

Jones is committed to ending homelessness, stemming from past financial insecurity and facing homelessness herself, and she hopes to tackle the high costs of housing and is urging the Democratic Party to focus on the crisis.

“Housing is a basic human need. Plain and simple,” Jones said in a statement attached to an endorsement from Blue America, a PAC supporting the progressive movement. “America’s aspirational dream of equality for all is a noble cause worth fighting for and it starts with ensuring every child has a safe place to call home.”

Jones urges the Democratic Party to focus on the homelessness crisis the nation is facing, pointing to members of Congress who have shared similar experiences with housing insecurity, such as Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO), who has pushed “for legislation that would meaningfully address this multifaceted crisis.”

California has faced a rise in fentanyl use and opioid-involved overdose deaths in recent years, with state lawmakers allocating over $1 billion to combat the crisis. Jones outlined her plan to tackle the epidemic, noting unity is needed to create “resilience within our communities” and to “forge a brighter, drug-free future for all.”

“By leveraging these three strategic pillars — expanding access to treatment, fostering public education, and enhancing law enforcement — we can together confront the rise in fentanyl overdoses and make substantial progress in curbing California’s drug crisis,” Jones said.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Falling along party lines, Jones hopes to have a robust climate action agenda and supports small businesses and small business owners.

According to the Federal Election Commission, Lori Kirkland Baker, a Democrat and a Hollywood television writer and producer, has also entered the race.