Republicans in California’s 48th Congressional District see an opportunity to take back the seat they lost in 2018 by running a stronger candidate against freshman Democrat Rep. Harley Rouda.
Rouda, a former real estate executive, was among seven House Democrats in 2018 to flip Republican seats. Rouda represents the state’s coastal region of Orange County, including Huntington Beach.
He beat 30-year Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican, by 7 points, largely due to Rohrabacher’s political baggage relating to his praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Rouda’s race against Rohrabacher was one of three in the state that billionaire Mike Bloomberg’s organization spent over $10 million combined to support. Rouda currently serves on the House Oversight Committee and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Rouda now faces Orange County Supervisor Michelle Park Steel, a Korean American married to Republican National Committee member Shawn Steel. She won a post on the California State Board of Equalization before serving in her current position.
The Cook Political Report rates the district as “R+4” but also classifies it as “Leans Democrat.” Both candidates are competitive in their fundraising efforts this cycle, according to the Federal Election Commission records. The contest between Rouda and Steel has grown intense as the race is expected to be tighter than the last election.
Rouda, known for his controversial outbursts, attacked Steel for wearing a mask at a county board meeting in April, claiming she was keeping vital personal protective equipment away from frontline workers. More recently, in a video to supporters, he compared Trump’s 2016 election to the rise of Adolph Hitler and told Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to “f— off” in a tweet.
Rouda demanded eight debates of his opponent, an unusual request of an incumbent to a challenger. Nearby Democratic Reps. Katie Porter and Gil Cisneros, who are in districts considered safer than Rouda, have not called for debates against their Republican challengers.
