1999 College and Wharton graduate Dave Min (D-Calif.) won election to the United States House of Representatives in California's 47th Congressional District, retaining Democratic control over the seat after Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) decided not to seek re-election.
His Republican opponent Scott Baugh conceded the race on Nov. 12, and AP News called the race for Min one day later. Despite Min's win in California’s 47th district, which was considered one of the most competitive in the country, the Republican Party gained control of the House of Representatives on Nov. 14.
"I know many of us are anxious about the future of our country, but we cannot give up on America," Min wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, after securing the victory. "In Congress, I will fight to protect our democracy, safeguard our freedoms, and expand economic opportunity."
Min studied philosophy and management at Penn and went on to become a law professor at University of California, Irvine School of Law. In 2020, he was elected to represent Orange County's 37th State Senate District.
Min and Baugh campaigned on many separate issues. Min placed focus on maintaining reproductive rights, gun violence, climate action, and the interests of the county’s diverse population, while Baugh campaigned on border security, the fentanyl crisis, and crime.
With 93% of votes in, Min has won 51.3% compared to Baugh’s 48.7%, a margin of about 9,000 votes. Porter had defeated Baugh 51.6% to 48.4%, with a margin of about 8,200 votes in 2022. The continued success of Democratic candidates reflects Orange County’s changing preferences — the once largely white, Republican-leaning county has grown demographically diverse, and its population of over 3 million has grown increasingly Democratic.
Min took the position of Democratic candidate after Porter decided to run for Senate instead of seeking re-election. However, Porter lost in the primaries, leaving only Min to win the seat. Min has been running for State Senate since 2018 and has served in office since 2020. Min won the primary against Democrat Joanna Weiss, a political activist and first-time candidate.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
Donate