Trump Gives Late Endorsement to Rep. Michelle Steel

Former President Donald Trump endorsed Congresswoman Michelle Steel (R-CA) in the 45th Congressional District race over the weekend, giving her an eleventh hour boost over Attorney Derek Tran (D) in the Los Angeles County/Orange County District.

Earlier this year, polls and results of the March primary showed that Steel was in a comfortable lead over Tran and other opponents. This included beating all of her Democratic opponents in the Primary with 55% of the vote. However, polls then turned over the summer. While Steel was up in May in polls, by July it was a 47%-47% tie. Tran, aided by targeting Asian communities in the District and Vice President Kamala Harris’ goodwill going down ballot, was soon up, with him being two points ahead in September.

Steel fought back though. In the last month, with Steel and other incumbent Congressional members hitting the trail more and more, she was back in the 45th, focusing on the key Asian areas that Tran had been going after. And while Democrats have been trying to remain ahead by going after Steel’s voting record, Tran has gone from scandal to scandal. This has included lying about being able to speak fluent Vietnamese, false claims about his military record, and then the biggest roadblock so far, his legal career – such as representing a rapist for profit and defending someone who had put up a noose in his office.

Meanwhile, the Harris bump withered away, with an unexpected surge of Latino voters helping Steel with another critical demo. Efforts to increase GOP registered voters in Orange County also helped further expand her base, moving the Cook Political Report to relist the race as a tossup. In Mid-October, a new poll showed a dramatic turnaround for Steel. According to the poll, Steel was now ahead of Tran 45%-41%, with 8% undecided.

Since then, Steel has gone after Tran more on ties to communism and China, while former President Bill Clinton has come to Orange County to endorse Tran. The national Democratic party in particular has been pouring a lot of money into the race, even commissioning their own poll last week showing Tran up by 3 points instead of Steel.

With every vote mattering in the race, the GOP needed to not only excite the base, but also pull in any remaining undecided votes. And with Clinton supporting Tran, the GOP over the weekend decided to one up their opponents by having Trump endorse Steel.

Trump endorses Steel

“Congresswoman Michelle Steel is a Tremendous Champion for the Great People of California’s 45th Congressional District,” said Trump on Truth Social on Saturday. “An America First Patriot whose family bravely fled Communism, Michelle brings that same fighting spirit to Congress, and will never back down against the Communists, Marxists, and Socialists on the Radical Left. Michelle is working hard to Restore the American Dream, Grow our Economy, Secure our Border, Support our Great Military/Vets, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment. During my Administration, Michelle worked with us to achieve the lowest ever unemployment for Vietnamese Americans, and ALL Americans.

“Michelle is one of the strongest Congresswomen in the Country, whereas her WEAK opponent, Derek Tran, is a Radical Left Puppet of Communist China, who will put our Country, and Safety, LAST. Michelle, on the other hand, will ALWAYS put California, and America, FIRST.

“Michelle Steel has my Complete and Total Endorsement – SHE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!”

While the endorsement is unlikely to pull any support from the left, much like how Clinton’s is unlikely to pull any from the right, both are expected to appeal to more mid-ground voters who still haven’t voted. The endorsements also hope to gain down ballot voters who usually vote in only the presidential race.

“The endorsement serves many purposes,” said Heath Becker, a New York-based political analyst who focuses on swing districts, to the Globe on Monday. “First, it counteracts the Democrats having Clinton come out for them recently. You know ‘Oh, you got a former president? Well, we’ll have a former President who is also running!’. Second, as you pointed out, it shores up support, both from the base and from undecided voters. Third, it adds excitement into the race. Oh, and the big one, it takes headlines.

“This is one of the closest House races in the country, and both sides are fighting over it as it could swing which way the House goes for majority control. Also, in the very unlikely event that there in a 269-269 electoral tie, the House of Representatives votes for the President using the new Congress. Added incentive for her to win here.

“It was a smart move now to do this instead of just before election day, as more people are still early voting. Even eight years later, there are still echoes of Trump and a Clinton going head to head.”