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(LOS ANGELES) – First-time candidate Josh Harder defeated four-term Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham Tuesday in California's farm belt, giving them their fourth pickup of GOP House seat in California.
Harder, 32, a venture capitalist, had argued against the Affordable Care Act, while arguing that he would push for universal health care in Congress. He also argued that Denham and other Washington Republicans ignored poverty and health care in the agricultural 10th District in California's Central Valley.
"Washington is broken because of our leaders have put party over country. I pledge that I would always put this community in Washington, "Harder said in a statement.
As ballot-counting continued, Democrats gained ground in two undecided House races in Orange County, California, raising the possibility of a Republican stronghold.
In the 45th District in Orange County, Democrat Katie Porter jumped into a 261-vote lead over Republican Rep. Mimi Walters, after trailing the incumbent since Election Day.
And in the 39th District, anchored in Orange County, Democrat Gil Cisneros tightened the gap with Republican Young Kim.
Earlier, Democrats claimed the seats of Republican Reps. Dana Rohrabacher in the county's 48th District and retiring Darrell Issa in the 49th District, which cuts through the southern end of the county.
With votes continuing to be counted, Harder's edge has grown after Denham grabbed a slim lead on Election Day. After the latest update, Harder had a vote of 4,919 votes cast, 185,000 votes counted, a margin too large for the congressman to overcome votes.
Denham's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The 51-year-old Denham had been portrayed as a liberal, Silicon Valley insider whose values were more closely aligned with Democratic House Leader Nancy Pelosi than a known district for producing cherries and almonds. Posted on Twitter tagged Harder "extreme."
The contest is one of a string of showcase battles in California in the United States that were targeted by Democrats after Hillary Clinton's presidential election.
For state Republicans, Denham's defeat marked another setback in a state of drifting toward irrelevance for years. Democrats hold every state office, and have a 3.7-million advantage in voting registrations.
With Harder's win, Democrats will have at least a 43-10 edge in California U.S. House seats.
Denham had proved to be a sustainable politician in a district 80 miles (129 miles) east of San Francisco with a Democratic Registration Edge. The former legislator is elected to the House in 2010 is known for his involvement in water issues vital to agriculture. In his tilt to his heavy Hispanic population, he pushed Congress to consider a pathway to citizenship for those who came to the United States as children.
Denham won by 3 percentage points in 2016.
$ 6 million and Denham, $ 4.5 million. At least 26 outside groups $ 10 million trying to influence the race, according to the California Target Book, which reflects campaigns.
Denham awarded the race for money in the district. But it became another victim in a year when Democrats regained control of the House.
Other Republican incumbents in California Steve Knight in the 25th District, north of Los Angeles.
President Donald Trump was a factor in the GOP losses. He lost California by over 4 million votes in 2016, and many voters saw an opportunity to send a message to Washington when they voted for Democrats.
California is home to the so-called Trump "resistance," which has stood in opposition to its policies on the environment and immigration.
Harder, a technology investor who was born and raised in the district, said voters were looking for a check against Trump policies that "made things worse for most people in this community."
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