Democrats gain ground in California US House battles
LOS ANGELES — Several Democrats gained ground Friday against Republican incumbents in closely contested U.S. House races in California, where votes continue to be counted.
Fifteen-term U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher fell farther behind Democrat Harley Rouda, a real estate executive, in Orange County’s coastal 48th District. Rouda extended his lead to 7,300 votes, or nearly 52 per cent, returns showed.
In the neighbouring 45th District, Democrat Katie Porter inched closer to Republican U.S. Rep. Mimi Walters, whose lead shrank to 2,020 votes, or 1 percentage point, out of about 205,000 ballots tallied. Two days earlier, she led by about 6,000 votes.
And in the Central Valley’s 10th District, Democrat Josh Harder grabbed a nearly 2-point lead after trailing Rep. Jeff Denham.