California’s Orange County could determine Congress control

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) — California’s Orange County could be the decisive battleground for control of Congress.

Democrats have hopes of picking up as many as four Republican-held House seats in the Southern California county.

California is a strongly Democratic state, but Orange County has long been known as a Republican bastion. However, change has come with a diversifying population.

And a jolt came in 2016 when Hillary Clinton carried the four districts over then-candidate Donald Trump.

Republicans are determined to hold their ground in the June 5 primary. They’ve opened a sprawling campaign office to help Reps. Mimi Walters and Dana Rohrabacher keep their jobs.

The other two GOP-held seats are open after the announced retirements of Reps. Darrell Issa and Ed Royce.