Democratic incumbent Rep. Dave Min and Republican Jenny Rae Le Roux face off Tuesday, Nov. 3, for California's 47th Congressional District seat in a race that could help determine which party controls the U.S. House.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Voters still in line at 8 p.m. have the right to cast a ballot, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Election-night results will be unofficial. A winner may become clear before counting is complete, but the county must finish its canvass before certifying the results.
What's at stake
All 435 U.S. House seats are on the ballot nationwide, Patch reported. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report said Democrats could win as many as 240 races, above the 218 needed for a majority. Republicans hold a six-seat Senate edge, with seven Senate races within the margin of error.
The redrawn 47th District covers central and southern Orange County, including Irvine, Tustin, Lake Forest, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills and Laguna Woods, along with portions of Newport Beach and Mission Viejo.
Registered Democrats make up 36.25% of the district's voters, Republicans account for 31.87% and another 25.47% have no party preference, according to California Secretary of State data cited by the Register.
The candidates
Min, 50, is a member of the House Oversight Committee and represents the district as its current congressman. He issued a statement in September on his vote for the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026, according to a press release from his office.
Le Roux, 46, is an entrepreneur who serves as director of CAL DOGE, a group focused on identifying ways to reduce the size and scope of state agencies, the Register reported.
Where they differ
The candidates split on offshore drilling. Min told the Register he is "100% opposed" to expanding offshore drilling in California, saying offshore oil accounts for less than 1% of the economic activity generated by coastal waters. Le Roux said expanding drilling would create "real relief" for families facing rising gas prices but added that offshore drilling would be unnecessary if California allowed expanded onshore drilling.
On healthcare, Min said Congress needs to reverse cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and preserve Affordable Care Act subsidies. Le Roux said she would push for audits and fraud detection, telling the Register she would "not tolerate a system that lets fraudsters drain it dry while honest people wait longer and pay more."
Both candidates agreed on the need for federal guardrails around surveillance technology and data-center development in local communities.
How to vote and track results
California mails vote-by-mail ballots to all active registered voters. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by county elections officials no later than Nov. 10. Ballots returned in person must reach a vote center or official drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Orange County's Registrar of Voters has 192 vote centers open through Election Day. Registrar Bob Page said voters can also return ballots at any of 128 official ballot drop boxes.
Orange County election results will be posted after polls close at ocvote.gov/results/current-election-results. California law allows county elections officials up to 30 days to complete the official canvass.
