LOS ANGELES — Republican Scott Baugh has officially ended his campaign for the U.S. House seat in Southern California’s 47th District, conceding defeat to Democrat Dave Min. This race is significant as it involves the seat being vacated by Democratic Rep. Katie Porter.

Although the Associated Press has not declared a definite winner yet due to uncounted ballots, Baugh took to the social media platform X on Tuesday evening to express his appreciation for the campaign. He stated, “Despite running a strong campaign … that effort is going to come up a little short.”

This Orange County district, located southeast of Los Angeles, was among the key targets for national Republicans aiming to protect and potentially expand their slim majority in the House of Representatives.

On the same night, another Republican, Rep. David Valadao, won in California’s 22nd District, bringing the GOP closer to maintaining control of the House with the current tally standing at 216-207 in favor of the Republicans, while several races across the nation continued to be tallied.

In California, several critical elections are still in contention that may sway the balance of power in the House for the upcoming year. Min, also engaging on X, declared his intentions to “fight to protect our democracy, safeguard our freedoms and expand economic opportunity” when he gets to Congress.

California is predominantly known for its Democratic stronghold; Democrats occupy every statewide office, dominate the Legislature, and congressional representation, and they significantly outnumber registered Republicans by a ratio of 2-1. However, Republicans still maintain influence in specific suburban areas of Southern California, as well as vast rural regions like the Central Valley.

Once regarded as a conservative bastion, Orange County was historically reliable for Republican candidates, especially among white suburban homeowners. This area played a pivotal role during the Reagan era. However, over time, the county has experienced demographic shifts becoming more diverse and Democratic.

The 47th District incorporates popular coastal spots like Huntington Beach and previously belonged to Katie Porter, who was a progressive icon. Porter narrowly defeated Baugh in the 2022 election. Known for her tough questioning of CEOs in Congressional hearings, Porter decided to run for the U.S. Senate but was unsuccessful in the primary.

The tension in this high-stakes contest was palpable, with Min’s advertisements accusing Baugh of being a “MAGA extremist” who would threaten abortion rights. In turn, Baugh labeled Min’s positions as “extreme liberal views,” claiming they were not representative of the district’s constituents.