Controversial Rohrabacher Loses His House Seat

A familiar name in Congress won't be returning. Republican Dana Rohrabacher has lost his seat in Orange County, California, to Democrat Harley Rouda after serving almost 30 years. The AP called the race Saturday, with Rouda at 52% and up by about 8,500 votes. The 71-year-old Rohrabacher is a former speechwriter for Ronald Reagan whose pro-Russian views in recent years have earned him the derisive nickname of "Putin's favorite congressman," notes Politico. (Rohrabacher said Putin once beat him in a drunken arm-wrestling contest.) Rohrabacher also has been one of the few Republicans pushing for legal marijuana, notes the Wall Street Journal. The victory by Rouda in a once traditionally red district (it was home to Richard Nixon) will help Democrats solidify their majority in the new Congress. (More Dana Rohrabacher stories.)