Bill Clinton stumps for Democrats in Orange County with control of the House on the line

Greeted by cheers, former President Clinton appeared at two rallies Saturday for Orange County Democrats running in hotly contested House races that could determine which party wins control of Congress.

Clinton warned about the dangers of a second administration under former President Trump, urging attendees inside the Carpenters Union Training Center in Buena Park to send candidate Derek Tran to the House of Representatives.

“You are the resolution of this,� Clinton told the crowd, many of whom were getting ready to canvass that day. “You are the key to whether he represents you in Congress and provides even the last guardrail against a more tyrannical government or the beginning of a new majority.�

Clinton headlined the rallies as part of an “AAPI Day of Action� for Tran and and state Sen. Dave Min (D-Irvine). The event was held to reach Asian American voters, who have become an important voting bloc in the region, and residents of the Buena Park and Westminster areas.

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Clinton’s presence at the event signaled how “both parties place a high priority on winning these seats,� said David Wasserman, senior editor and elections analyst for the nonpartisan newsletter the Cook Political Report. Orange County leaned more Republican when Clinton was in office, Wasserman said, but the region has progressively moved left as it became more diverse.

“These are two of the top targets for the parties in the country,� Wasserman said. On election night, it may be possible for the country to “wait on California to know which party controls the House.�

Along with Clinton, Reps. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), Marilyn Strickland from Washington and Jill Tokuda of Hawaii gave speeches criticizing Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Seal Beach), who is seeking her third term in Congress.

Tran has faced a costly and difficult fight in his effort to unseat Steel. At his rally Saturday morning, he spoke about his working-class background and rallied against Steel’s record in Congress, particularly on the issue of abortion.

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Steel, who supported the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe vs. Wade, previously told The Times in a statement that she does not support a federal ban on abortion and was an advocate of fertility treatments. Democratic candidates across the nation have seized on the issue, especially in tight races against vulnerable Republicans.

“No one thought this race was winnable — well, I kind of did — just a few months ago, right?� Tran told supporters. “But you showed up, you knocked on doors, you talked to voters, you changed the narrative.�

Clinton, who talked with Tran in a private moment at a coffee shop before the rally, touched on Tran’s Vietnamese heritage, which his campaign hopes will resonate with voters in a district heavily populated with Vietnamese Americans.

“I think it’s inexplicable why the congressional district with the largest number of Vietnamese Americans in the country has never had a Vietnamese representative,� Clinton said.

Clinton shook hands and took selfies with supporters after the event. Carrying a Tran for Congress lawn sign, resident Bill Bennett said it was important for Democrats to take control of House.

“Got to get stuff done,� he said. “This Congress did nothing, less than nothing.�

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Shortly after Tran’s event, local officials and Clinton joined Min’s rally about 10 miles away at Westmont Elementary School in Westminster. Min and Republican Scott Baugh have trading blows in an effort to succeed Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine.)

Min has been at the center of recent attack ads by the National Republican Congressional Committee, which have linked him and other Democrats to pedophiles over their endorsement from Equality California, one of the state’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organizations.

Min forcefully pushed back against the ads Saturday, noting that his oldest son had recently asked him why he was being associated with pedophilia.

“I had to answer the question honestly,� he said. “That is what this election is about. It’s about honesty, integrity and electing people who want to get the job done.�

Clinton also refuted the ads, emphasizing again how crucial the Orange County races in the 45th and 47th congressional districts were to Democrats.

“This race that Dave Min has undertaken in a district that is challenging but doable may determine whether there is at least one guardrail if the worst should happen,� Clinton said.

Min said in an interview after the rally that Clinton’s appearance is a “sign of confidence that he’s willing to come out here and put his spend some time with us.�

“I’ll just note that there are no Republican presidents supporting my opponent, except for Donald Trump,� he added.

Clinton is the latest high-profile Democrat politician to tune into Southern California as the Nov. 5 election looms. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries attended campaigning events in Orange County and the Antelope Valley over the Oct. 13 weekend, the same day House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) appeared in Corona.