No surprises so far in Orange County’s less competitive House races

Vote counts issued Tuesday night offered no hints of surprise in several local House races that weren’t expected to be competitive, as Democratic incumbents took the lead or won five seats outright.

Early results this year are projected to favor Democrats this cycle, and two districts that flipped to blue in 2018 are likely to grow closer as more ballots are counted.

In O.C.’s 45th District, which still leans narrowly red, freshman Democratic Rep. Katie Porter declared victory Tuesday night over Republican challenger Greg Raths, who’s a Mission Viejo councilman.

Though she flipped the district in 2018, Porter has run as an unabashed progressive who supports universal healthcare, has championed legislation making it easier for regular people to run for office and opposes President Donald Trump’s cap on state and local tax deductions. The former UC Irvine law professor has gained national name recognition and record-breaking campaign contributions in the wake of her tough grilling of corporate executives during congressional hearings.

Raths, a retired Marine colonel, ran on a conservative platform of smaller government, opposition to abortion rights, stricter immigration controls and support for Trump.

Democratic Rep. Mike Levin — who two years ago flipped CA-49, which straddles south O.C. and north San Diego County — posted an early lead over San Juan Capistrano Councilman Brian Maryott, who’s a Republican.

“While the results of this election are not yet final, I want to thank Councilman Brian Maryott for running a spirited campaign,” Levin said in a video Tuesday night. “His passion for our district is admirable. … We were friends before this and we will be friends after this.”

Levin focused much of his first term on legislation to support veterans and the environment, with hopes to take climate change policies further in a second term.

Maryott’s campaign emphasized lowering taxes, reducing the deficit, boosting border security and reopening the economy through the pandemic.

Veteran Reps. Linda Sanchez in CA-38, Lou Correa in CA-46 and Alan Lowenthal in CA-47 easily outpaced challengers in their deep blue districts. And, late Tuesday, the Associated Press called CA-38 for Sanchez, of Whittier, sending her to Washington for a 10th term. In the district, which is largely in southern Los Angeles County and includes a sliver of north O.C., she ran against fellow Democrat Michael Tolar, who didn’t fundraise for his campaign but hoped to push his party further to the left.

The Associated Press also called the win for Correa, of Anaheim, over Republican challenger James Waters, a retired postal worker. Correa wins a third term in O.C.’s diverse 46th District.

Lowenthal is in a rematch with Republican John Briscoe in the 47th District, which includes Long Beach and Catalina Island plus a swath of northwest O.C. The incumbent handily defeated Briscoe in 2018 and appears on track to do it again, which would give him a fifth term in Congress.