In a sign that the red wave building nationwide is being felt in Orange County, the respected Cook Political Report has moved the contest in the 47th Congressional District – where Republican former Assemblyman Scott Baugh is trying to unseat left-wing Democrat star Rep. Katie Porter – from “Lean Democrat” to “Toss -up.”
Tens of millions are being spent in a brutal slugfest between the two candidates. Porter, a political celebrity among the progressive Democrat base, was elected in 2018 during the Blue Wave, but is now running in a newly-redrawn district in which she has never faced most of the voters.
Republican turnout is strong so far: GOP voters are returning their ballots at roughly the same pace as Democrats, a break from the past few cycles where early voting heavily favored Democrats.
Democrats have responded by flying progressive-Left stars into the district in hopes of firing up base voters. On October 23, leftist firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasia-Cortez headlined a rally at UC Irvine – although Porter did not attend. Veteran political watchers suspect Porter camp hopes the AOC visit bumps activist enthusiasm but stayed away before AOC is toxic to many swing voters in the right-leaning district.
Tomorrow, Porter will be campaigning with Jane Fonda, whom the campaign bills as a “climate activist” but who is still best known politically for flying to Hanoi during the Vietnam War to condemn American involvement and stage propaganda photo opps with the North Vietnamese Communists.
Baugh lambasted Porter’s decision to campaign with Fonda.
“When leftist policies have created the worst inflation in 40 years, it seems desperate for Porter to bring a faded icon of the Left in to double down on failure,” said Baugh.
Local strategist think this could backfire on Porter.
“This will be all over Vietnamese media and will blow up in Porter’s face,” said Chris Nguyen, a Republican strategist and son of Vietnamese immigrants.
Appointed U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, will join Porter and Fonda for the rally.
