The congresswoman hopes to serve a third term by winning in the newly redrawn 47th District of California where one third of her previous constituents live.
The General elections on Nov. 8th promises to be exceptionally competitive. The new congressional map, a result of the redistricting process, means that California’s District 47 has grown to encompass large coastal areas of Orange County including Seal Beach, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach. Inland, District 47th now includes most of Irvine, and Costa Mesa.
It is this area that Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA) hopes to represent. Only one third of the constituents in this district have been represented by Porter in the past. If she wins it would be her third term in office as a congresswoman.
The margins are close with Porter having a slight advantage. California’s top-two primary results saw Porter winning 51% of the votes, with the next four top votes going to Republicans. With the GOP needing a net gain of just five seats to win the house majority, some analysts believe the district will be in reach for Republicans under the right conditions. Porter’s campaign financing however, far outpaces her challenger Scott Baugh (R-CA) with her $19 million to his $1 million.
Still if the 2021 gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey are indicators of the climate of these midterms, the GOP can navigate a way to success.
Two thirds of the constituents of the 47th District have not been previously represented by Porter. In the end it may just come down to who best endears the constituents to their vision and the manner in which that is presented.
