Democrat Derek Tran has defeated Republican incumbent Michelle Steel for a House seat representing California’s Orange County and Los Angeles, NBC News projects, after a contentious race that centered on the candidates’ Asian American identities and use of aggressive anti-China messaging.

Rep. Michelle Steel, a two-term incumbent in California’s 45th congressional district, appears to have conceded to Derek Tran Wednesday afternoon after a long slog of a race that is one of the nation’s closest remaining contests yet to be called.

Democrat Derek Tran has defeated two-term Republican U.S. Rep. Michelle Steel in a Southern California House district that was specifically drawn to give Asian Americans a stronger voice on Capitol Hi