HUNGTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) - The Latest on midterm campaigning in California (all times local)
3 p.m.
Gavin Newsom, the Democratic candidate for California governor, is urging voters to turn out in droves “to take back this democracy” from President Donald Trump and Republicans.
Newsom took his statewide tour to Orange County on Saturday, a crucial battleground in the fight to control the U.S. House.
At a rally at a hotel ballroom, he shared the stage with Katie Porter, the Democratic candidate seeking to unseat Republican Rep. Mimi Walters in the 45th District.
He said, “orange is the new blue,” a quip expressing confidence that Orange County, once known as a GOP fortress, could see a string of House seats taken by Porter and other Democrats.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris set off a thunderous cheer for Porter, leading the crowd in chanting “Katie, Katie.”
Comedian Chelsea Handler was also on stage, wearing a T-shirt with the word “vote” in bold letters.
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11:50 a.m.
By bus, by freeway or on foot, candidates dashed across California knocking on doors, dialing phones and urging voters at crowded rallies to head to the polls.
Among the closest races Saturday were a string of Republican-held U.S. House seats in Orange County that Democrats want to capture as part of the party’s strategy to retake control of the U.S. House.
In the closely contested 39th District, GOP candidate Young Kim was joined by Republican candidate for governor, John Cox, who pulled up to her campaign office in a lime-green bus splashed with the slogan, “Help is on the way.”
Kim urged a crowd of cheering supporters to get to the polls or mail in a ballot, warning it could be their vote that makes a difference on Election Day.
Cox led the crowd in chants of “Enough is enough,” saying residents had been burdened with too many taxes.
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10 a.m.
The fight for control of the U.S. House is attracting big names to historically Republican Orange County, California.
The candidates for governor, Democrat Gavin Newsom and Republican John Cox, are each scheduled to campaign with House candidates Saturday in the run-up to Tuesday’s election.
Democrats hope to claim 23 seats nationwide to retake the House.
In California, Democrats are targeting a string of GOP-held districts that were carried by Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.
Four of those seats are completely or partly in Orange County, a one-time GOP stronghold.
Cox will attend a rally with Republican Young Kim in the 39th District, while Newsom will be joined by U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris and comedian Chelsea Handler at an event for Democrat Katie Porter in the 45th District.
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2:30 p.m.
Gavin Newsom, the Democratic candidate for California governor, is urging voters to turn out in droves “to take back this democracy” from President Donald Trump and Republicans.
Newsom brought his statewide tour to Orange County, California, Saturday afternoon, a crucial battleground in the fight to control the U.S. House. At a rally at a hotel ballroom, he shared the stage with Katie Porter, the Democratic candidate seeking to unseat Republican Rep. Mimi Walters in the 45th District.
He said “orange is the new blue,” a quip expressing confidence that Orange County, once known as a GOP fortress, could see a string of House seats taken by Porter and other Democrats.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris set off a thunderous cheer for Porter, leading the crowd in the chant of “Katie, Katie.”
“Vote the right people in,” she said, pointing at Porter.
Comedian Chelsea Handler was also on stage, wearing a T-shirt with the word “vote” in bold letters.
She told the crowd “we have the power to take back the House in three days” and urged volunteers to keep knocking on doors.
Democrats hope to flip 23 seats nationwide to gain control of the House.
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