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Representative Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican member from California who represented Orange County for 15 terms, lost her bid for reelection. His defeat highlights the party's setbacks in a part of the state that has long been the symbol of its political dominance.
Associated Press called the race Saturday. Harley Rouda received 52% of the votes against 48% for Mr Rohrabacher.
Rouda, 56, is a former Republican-turned-Democrat who has become a symbol of Democratic efforts to reconquer Congress this year. Mr Rohrabacher, aged 71, was considered particularly vulnerable because he had defended Russia amid allegations that she had attempted to intervene in elections in the United States. United.
In July, Mr. Rohrabacher admitted to being interviewed by Maria Butina, accused of conspiracy this summer by federal prosecutors and acting as a foreign agent, during her trip to Russia in 2015. Mr. Rohrabacher was considered so valuable to the Kremlin that the FBI warned in 2012 that Russia considered it a source of intelligence worthy of a code name. His support for Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised questions even among other Republicans.
Mr. Rouda took advantage of this in his campaign by announcing links between Putin and Rohrabacher and criticizing Rohrabacher for questioning US intelligence that Russia would have interfered with the 2016 elections.
Mr. Rouda said that he was in favor of Medicare for all and a federal minimum wage of $ 15 / hour related to inflation, as well as free education in public colleges. In a post on Twitter after the call of the race, he thanked his supporters "Who has spent countless hours to return" the 48th congressional district. He told The Associated Press that he wanted to be "honest, transparent, accessible and tireless" in Washington.
Democrats focused on seven Republican-controlled seats in California. The defeat of Mr. Rohrabacher marks the third democratic victory of these races.
Saturday night, three other races remained too close to be followed.
Josh Harder, a Democrat, was ahead of Rep. Jeff Denham by 1.9 percentage points in the 10th district. Rep. Mimi Walters led Katie Porter by 0.9 percentage points in the 45th district. And Young Kim, a Republican, beat Gil Cisneros by 1.4 percentage points in a race to replace Rep. Ed Royce, a Republican who is retiring from the 39th district headquarters.
Republican support is eroding regularly in Orange County; In 2016, Hillary Clinton became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win since the Great Depression. About one-third of the county's voters are registered Republicans, compared with more than half in 1990. About 30 percent of the district's voters are not registered with any of the parties.
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