Republicans have suffered yet another loss in the House as Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA) was knocked out of office after four terms, making this the best midterm election cycle for Democrats since Watergate.
Denham was defeated by his Democratic challenger, Josh Harder, in a race that was too close to call on election night.
Harder’s lead had grown over the last week, and the latest update on Tuesday night showed him 4,919 votes ahead, a margin that Denham would not be able to make up.
Two key congressional contests in California remain too close to call.
In the 45th District, Representative Mimi Walters, an Orange County Republican, is trailing Katie Porter, a Democrat.
And in the 39th District, one Republican, Young Kim, is seeking to fill the seat being vacated by another, Representative Ed Royce of Orange County. Kim is opposed by the Democratic candidate Gil Cisneros.
With Harder’s victory, the Democrats have gained 33 seats in the House and appear on track to gain between 35 and 40 once all the nationwide counting is complete.
That is their best showing in midterm elections since the Watergate era.
