DEREK TRAN “won” second place in the 45th District primary Shutterstock).

A congressional race that was watched nationally also had a significant local interest as well.

In the 45th District primary election on March 5, incumbent Republican Michelle Steel easily placed first, but the race between Democrats for second place – and a slot on the November general election ballot – was hotly contested.

The race was close, but Derek Tran ended up narrowly edging out Garden Grove Councilmember Kim Nguyen-Penaloza by the time all votes were tallied weeks later.

In Orange County, Tran received 20,194 votes, just 72 votes ahead of Nguyen-Penaloza. But the 45th District now includes parts of Los Angeles County, including Hawaiian Gardens and Artesia as well as all of Garden Grove and Westminster.

With Los Angeles County returns included, Tran outpolled Nguyen-Penaloza by 366 votes (22,544 to 22,178). She has since endorsed him in his race against Steel.

The district is closely divided between registered Republicans and Democrats, the latter of which are hopeful of “flipping” it in the fall and reversing the GOP’s slim majority in the House of Representatives.