Jeff: If Republicans want to
gain control of the house of
representatives, a district like
California's 47th is one they
will need to flip.
Pollsters consider the race a
tossup between the democratic
incumbent and Republican.
This past weekend, we went to
California to take a closer look
at the race.
The signatures of a get out and
vote effort in Orange county,
California.
Events in Costa Mesa and
Huntington Beach, Republican and
state assembly member works to
rally his supporters.
>> We will retire Katie porter
and retire Nancy Pelosi.
Jeff: Democratic congresswoman
Katie porter talked with
volunteers about how to connect.
>> People are nervous today to
talk about politics.
The division, the risk of
political violence.
If you are cheerful and you are
calm, accepting, you show
willingness to listen to them,
they will respond in kind.
Jeff: Out canvassing it became
clear what is top of mind for
many voters.
That gentleman there said his
top concern was inflation.
How do you want to address that?
>> He addressed it himself.
He knew more about it than most
people.
We have to get the supply going
up.
Inflation is caused by two
things.
Number one, a lack of supply of
goods and too much spending.
If you get your supply chains
fixed and you get the production
coming back up, you solve the
inflation problem.
Jeff: At the pump in Orange
county the average cost of a
gallon of gas is $5.41.
More than one dollar $.50 above
the national average.
Porter acknowledges as the party
in power, inflation is a problem
that needs attention.
>> We are all struggling with
this.
What we have to remind people is
Democrats have a plan.
Yes, we have taken that action
against things like the release
of oil.
We have taken action on bringing
down health care premiums.
There is more to be done.
One of the things I remind
people is that corporate profits
today count for about half of
inflation.
That extra two dollars at the
grocery store is corporate
profits.
I would welcome Republicans to
help inflation.
All they have done is point the
finger.
They have not offered any
solutions.
Jeff: His answer is to quit
spending.
>> We can't run trillion dollars
deficits every year.
There is a consequence to
that.
We need to get our spending
under control.
Congress right now, they scratch
every inch they have, we cannot
do that.
Jeff: Republican Joann Adams
owns several small businesses in
Orange county, tax cuts would be
welcome.
>> When taxes go up and when the
supply chain issues have
affected us and the availability
of product for us, it ends up
making it impossible to keep our
prices where they are.
I feel like raising prices is
harmful to have higher prices
but then my customers feel the
same pain.
You have to do what you have to
do.
Jeff: The district they are
vying for is brand-new.
It's lines were redrawn in 2020.
The coastal district now
includes a chunk of Orange
county running along the coast
and going inland to Irvine.
University of California Irvine
professor Tony Smith says when
it comes to Orange county
voters, there is more than meets
the eye.
>> Used to be a Republican
bastion.
Ronald Reagan's GOP, is that
still the case?
>> The Republicans here are
still those people.
The Republican party nationally
is not that anymore.
We are much more interested in
hearing about capital gain
statuses then they are hearing
about same-sex marriage or
abortion contestation.
Jeff: Porter and Baugh are
opposites.
>> If we see people like my
opponent elected to congress, he
has said he will happily be the
218th vote for a nationwide
abortion ban.
If that ban goes into effect,
there's nothing California can't
do to protect that freedom.
Jeff: What do you tell the
voters about why they should
send you to D.C.?
>> America is on the wrong
track.
We have open borders, drugs and
terrorists coming across the
border.
We need to spend less money, get
our fiscal house in order.
We need to secure the border and
make sure our police are funded.
Jeff: This race may be swayed by
money.
Across the district, Katie
porter signs were at nearly
every bus stop.
A sign of how much her campaign
has raised.
$22 million.
>> Turns out the real Scott
Baugh --
Jeff: She spent $13 million on
TV and digital ads.
In contrast, Scott Baugh sent
just over $1 million on ads.
He's excepted $8 million worth
of airtime from the
congressional leadership fund.
A super pack.
Ultimately, it may come down to
who exactly shows up to cast
their ballot.
>> I think it is going to be a
low turnout election.
Scott should hope it is because
he has a better shot of winning.
There is no indication.
If anything we see
18-30-year-olds turning out at
almost 40%.
If you could extrapolate from
early voting.
That will be a historic high.
They are voting on abortion.
Jeff: In a district famous for
its ocean waves more than its
political ones, what remains
unknown is who stands afloat and
who might -- wipes out.