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DCCC Poll Shows Katie Porter With Slight Lead Over Mimi Walters

Democratic challenger has 3-point lead over GOP incumbent

Democrat Katie Porter, is running in California's 45th District. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Democrat Katie Porter, is running in California's 45th District. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

A Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee poll showed a close race in California’s 45th District, with Democrat Katie Porter slightly ahead of GOP Rep. Mimi Walters.

The survey, paid for by the DCCC’s independent expenditure arm, found that 49 percent of respondents backed Porter while 46 percent backed Walters. Five percent were undecided, according to a polling memo obtained first by Roll Call. The poll had a 4.38 point margin of error.

The survey also found that President Donald Trump remains unpopular in a district Hillary Clinton won by 5 points in 2016. Forty-five percent had a favorable view of Trump, compared to 54 percent who had an unfavorable view.

Walters’ approval rating was split, with 44 percent having a favorable view of her compared to 45 percent who viewed her unfavorably. And Porter’s numbers reflected her lower name recognition, with 35 percent viewing her favorably and 16 percent viewing her unfavorably.

The survey found that 89 percent recognized Walters’ name while only 51 percent recognized Porter, a law professor at University of California, Irvine.

Tulchin Research conducted the poll from Aug. 10 through Aug. 14, surveying 500 likely voters. The pollsters surveyed respondents via live interviews using both landline and cell phones, as well as using email addresses from files in the state’s database of registered voters and text messaging to cell phones.

Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Lean Republican.

Watch: House Ratings Change in Favor of Democrats

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