After Democrat Derek Tran claimed victory in the race for California’s 45th District, Republican Rep. Michelle Steel officially conceded the next day. In her statement, Steel thanked her supporters and shared a hopeful message: “Everything is God’s will, and like all journeys, this one is ending so a new one can begin.”
While Steel didn’t mention Tran directly, she expressed her gratitude to everyone who helped her along the way. “I owe a big thank you to my supporters, my staff, my family, my daughters, and especially my husband, Shawn, for always standing by me through every campaign,” she said. “To my volunteers, we wouldn’t have made it this far without your hard work.” She also thanked voters and promised, “I will never stop fighting for you.”
Meanwhile, Tran took to social media on Tuesday, declaring that the numbers clearly showed he was the winner. “This victory is thanks to the resilience, spirit, and dedication of our #CA45 community and volunteers,” Tran posted. He said that voters he met during the campaign are looking forward with hope and determination, and he looks forward to representing that optimism in Washington.
At the time of the latest count, Tran was ahead of Steel by more than 500 votes. However, the race isn’t officially over yet. California counties have until December 5 to finalize their results. The 45th District covers parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties.
