
Despite being her hand-picked successor, David Min has faced vitriolic primaires and a mid-campaign DUI trying to hold on to the swing-seat.
When Representative Katie Porter left the US House of Representatives to run for Senate, her protégé David Min seemed perfectly poised to replace her. As State Senator, David Min has a history of flipping a red seat blue. But the combination of bitter Democratic primary and a DUI arrest are bringing into doubt his campaign to succeed his mentor in the US House.
With tight margins between Democrats and Republicans, control of the US House may rest in this coastal swing district, especially in turnout in Huntington Beach.
In 2022, Porter barely held onto California’s District 47, defeating Republican Scott Baugh by just around 9,000 votes. This despite outspending her opponent by over $25 million. Baugh is back and going head-to-head against Min in November’s general election.
Min’s career has taken a similar path as Porter’s. Both attended Harvard Law School and both served on the faculty at UC Irvine.
California 47 is widely considered a swing district. Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball rates the seat a toss-up. Baugh has deep local ties having served as chairman of Orange County Republican Party for more than a decade. Min has deep ties inside state and national Democratic politics. He was a staffer for Sen. Chuck Schumer and then served as a financial advisor to a variety of liberal think-tanks. Rep. Porter endorsed Min during his 2020 state Senate election and gave him an early endorsement making him the heir-apparent.
“[I] have every confidence that his campaign will ensure that California’s 47th Congressional District continues to be represented by a progressive Democrat,” said Katie Porter in her official endorsement. The endorsement was released the same day Min announced his candidacy.
Min has also been endorsed by Rep. Adam Schiff, the Service Employees International Union, California Labor Federation and other progressive organizations.
His opponent, former state Assemblyman and Assembly Republican Leader Scott Baugh has outlined a campaign based on lower taxes, curtailing inflation, and fighting crime.
In recent posts, Baugh has linked recent violence in Huntington Beach to Min’s support of Prop. 47 and his support from the National Federation of Independent Businesses.
The election is November 5 with vote by mail beginning 29 days from Election Day.
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