Election Day In OC: 45th District Election Could Change Tide

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — With less than 24 hours of campaigning still to go, Orange County voters will make decisions on races that could help flip at least three of the 23 House seats from Republican to Democrat.

The District 39, District 45 and the 48th District elections are all under scrutiny as what may be heralds of change for years to come.

District 39:

Democrat Gil Cisneros is battling Republican Young Kim for the District 39 seat being vacated by Republican Ed Royce. The 39th district covers northern Orange County, including Yorba Linda and Fullerton, as well as parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

District 45:

Republican Rep. Mimi Walters is facing a feisty challenge from Democrat Katie Porter in the 45th District, which covers the southern portion of Orange County, and cities of Irvine, Tustin, North Tustin, Villa Park, Orange, Anaheim Hills, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, along with sections of Aliso Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Mission Viejo.

District 48:

Democrat Harley Rouda is trying to unseat longtime Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher in the coastal 48th District. That district includes Seal Beach, Sunset Beach, Huntington Beach, Midway City, along with sections of Westminster, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, San Juan Capistrano, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Beach and Laguna Niguel.

District 49:

Democrat Mike Levin is battling with Republican Diane Harkey in a bid to fill the seat being vacated by Republican Rep. Darrel Issa, which affects northern San Diego County coastal cities and a small portion of southern Orange County, including part of Dana Point and unincorporated towns.

Other county-wide elections include a vote on a new sheriff, as well as whether to keep incumbent Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas over challenger Todd Spitzer.

Californians will also vote on the U.S. Senate race, with incumbent Democrat Dianne Feinstein ahead in polls the over fellow Democrat Kevin de Leon, City News Service reported.

In the Governor's race, Democrat Gavin Newsom, the current lieutenant governor, is leading in current polls over Republican challenger John Cox.

Ballot measures across the state cover subjects from rent control to housing bonds to the operation of kidney dialysis centers. Still, it is Measure 6, which would repeal the recently enacted gas tax hike for statewide road and transportation projects, on which voters are keeping a watchful eye.

Supporters of the measure say the tax is a burden on families, which also contends the state has plenty of money for transportation projects, but it just hasn't been spent appropriately.

Opponents insist the gas tax money is critical for finishing projects ranging from road repair, freeway construction, and rail systems, and canceling the tax would cripple transportation improvement efforts statewide.

Polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Be sure and follow Patch for up to the minute poll information, election results and more.

City News Service contributed to this report

Ashley Ludwig, Patch Staff Photo