Encompassing parts of Tustin, Lake Forest and Irvine, California’s 45th Congressional District is still up for grabs.
In the latest poll, Democratic challenger Katie Porter has a slight lead over Incumbent Republican Mimi Walters. Randomly telephone polling 518 people in the district, the NY Times casts Porter with a 48 percent to 43 percent advantage and 8 percent still undecided.
First elected to Congress in 2014, Walter’s district has proved loyal to the incumbent voting her back into office with wide margins in both 2014 and 2016. Despite this, it appears the district may be shifting more Democratic; or at least against Trump.
In 2016, 49.8 percent to 44.4 percent of Orange County voters preferred Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump and this may be having a significant impact on this congressional race.
Walters has stood with President Trump on several issues such as repealing Obamacare and passing major tax reform and she believes “people are starting to see the benefits of the tax reform.” Porter, the consumer protection attorney and college professor, argues that the tax law “punishes voters” and she is a strong advocate for a single payer health care system.
Porter has managed to out fund Walters by roughly $1.4 million.