California 39th District: Gil Cisneros And Young Kim Neck & Neck

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — The 39th district race is on between Democrat Gil Cisneros and Republican Young Kim, both vying for Republican Ed Royce's newly vacated seat. The 39th District consists predominantly of a large portion of Orange County along with slices of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

A longtime Republican stronghold, the district backed Hillary Clinton with a margin of more than 8 points in the 2016 presidential election, according to poll gurus at FiveThirtyEight. Polls show Cisneros has a narrow lead over Kim as of this report.

Kim, a Korean immigrant, small business owner and a 25-year public servant, has worked for retiring 39th District Congressman Ed Royce and has served in the California State Assembly. Kim has attacked Cisneros as a relative newcomer to the area. In discussing Cisneros, she has said that he only lived within the district "back when he dated his wife," and does not have a "strong connection with the community compared to someone who has raised a family here, worked in the community and represented them."

As Royce's protege, Kim has his full backing, along with that of the White House. However, she is attempting to distance herself from President Trump, according to a report from ABC7. For example, the report said, Kim believes humans contribute to climate change.

Cisneros, battling back, has said that "people know ... that (Kim) is tied to Trump, that she supports his agenda, whether it's tearing kids away from their parents down at the border or his lack of support for education."

Of his Mega Millions fortune, Cisneros said he and his wife have been "very lucky" as Mega Millions lottery winners. "We've shared that good fortune by investing in students through scholarships, college access programs, supporting elementary education both in reading and math," he said.

Kim, a continues to tout that she knows and serves the community of the 39th District and that she is the one running for the spot, not Royce or Trump.

The race remains one of the most closely watched in the nation because it's one Democrats hope to flip in order to take control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Voting by mail has already begun in the district, and by Nov. 6, voters in the 39th District will have a rare chance to steer politics on the national stage.

FULLERTON, CA - OCTOBER 04: Congressional candidate Gil Cisneros (CA-39) speaks at a 2018 mid-term elections rally on October 4, 2018 in Fullerton, California. The event, at California State University, Fullerton, was led by former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and was held for five California Democratic congressional candidates. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)