The tight race expected between freshman California Democratic Rep. Harley Rouda and Orange County Supervisor Michelle Steel would usually have the challenger calling for several debates against the incumbent.
But in an echo of endangered Republican senators demanding busier debate seasons against their Democratic rivals, it’s Rouda who wants to face off more often.
The Rouda campaign is requesting eight debates with Steel. One local California political analyst who spoke on the condition of anonymity told the Washington Examiner Rouda believes he can outshine Steel on the debate stage.
“I think it’s because the race is going to be close, and he must think, looking at her as a candidate, that he can do well in a debate with her,” the political analyst said. “It’s not typical when an incumbent would say that, but he’s not a solid incumbent.”
Rouda, a former real estate executive, was among four House Democrats to flip GOP seats in 2018, part of a political realignment in the once dominantly Republican county. The quartet, which along with Rouda includes Democratic Reps. Gil Cisneros, Mike Levin, and Katie Porter, helped House Democrats win their first majority in eight years.
“He won in a very close election the first time. And so, he knows he’s vulnerable coming up. This is traditionally a very solid Republican district in the old days. Things have changed. Climate change is a big deal in Newport Coast, Newport Beach. And a lot of people are highly educated and don’t like Trump.”
The Cook Political Report rates the district as R+4 but has it as “Leans D.” Rouda has over $2.8 million cash on hand, while Steel has nearly $2.1 million cash on hand, according to Federal Election Commission records. Steel managed to out-fundraise Rouda in the last quarter.
Rouda, who represents the state’s coastal Orange County region and Huntington Beach, defeated 30-year Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher by 7 points. Rouda’s race against Rohrabacher was one of three in the state that billionaire political activist Mike Bloomberg’s organization spent over $10 million combined supporting.
Rouda supported John Kasich in 2016 and targeted Rohrabacher’s perceived close ties to Russia and rode Democratic momentum against Trump to Washington. As a lawmaker, he has overwhelmingly voted along party lines.
His record lines up 92% of the time with “Squad” member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
He has attempted to gain the attention of voters in his district and the press through social media attacks on Republicans that include accusing his opponent of killing 32 people through her response to COVID-19, telling Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to “f–k off,” and attacking Steel for wearing a mask during an official Orange County meeting.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Rouda campaign and did not immediately hear back.
