Democrat Derek Tran emerged victorious over Republican U.S. Rep. Michelle Steel in a Southern California district designed to amplify Asian American representation in Congress. Tran, a lawyer and son of Vietnamese refugees, highlighted his victory as a reflection of the resilience and spirit of the local community. Steel, who won the seat in 2020 as one of the first Korean-American women in Congress, conceded with a statement acknowledging the end of this journey for a new beginning. Tran’s win came after late-counted ballots in Orange County pushed him past Steel's early lead. The district is home to a large Asian American population, including the largest Vietnamese community in the U.S.