Filipino American's Congressional victory confirmed

SCREEN CAPTURE / NBC

Newly elected TJ Cox is getting to know his way around Washington during orientation.

IT'S OFFICIAL, Democrat TJ Cox will represent California's San Joaquin Valley in Congress. Incumbent Republican David Valadao conceded Thursday (Dec. 6) afternoon, over a month after election day.

Cox, who is in Washington for orientation for first-time Congress members, confirmed that Valadao called him to announce his concession in the Nov.6 election for the 21st Congressional District seat.

“I’m thankful for his six years of service,” Cox tweeted. “As the congressman knows well, it is a great honor to represent #CA21. We will work together to ensure a smooth transition for our constituents.”

In a statement, Valadao described his time in Congress as “the honor of a lifetime.”

With one district still uncertain, the so-called Blue Wave swept in 40 Democrats into Congress as a result of the midterms. North Carolina's 9th District has not been confirmed by the state's election board because of apparent voting irregularities by the Republican candidate.

Cox, a businessman and engineer, is only the second Filipino American to be elected to Congress. He joins Virginia's Rep. Bobby Scott, whose grandparent is of Filipino descent.

“Well we’re excited to have TJ Cox join the Congress. For several years, I’ve been the only member with any Filipino ancestry," said Scott to Balitang America. "And it’s nice to have a new friend come in. We look forward to his service. He’s got a great background and that he’ll be a great contributor to the deliberations in the Congress.”

It was a long road for Cox. On election night Valadao held an almost 5,000-vote lead. National media called the election for the Republican. But as the provisional ballots and mail-in votes were counted, Cox began eating away until two weeks ago when he gained the lead by several hundred votes. In the last few days, his lead extended to almost 900  votes. 

Cox's victory and the sweep of all seven seats in former conservative bastion Orange County has California's Republican Party in tatters. Prior to Nov. 6, the GOP held 14 seats. After the elections, Republicans hold only seven out of the state's 53 House seats.

Cox founded several companies that process nuts, a major export from the Central Valley that was hurt by Donald Trump's trade policies. Earlier, it was erroneously reported that this was Cox's first run for Congress. He had run for Congress in 2006 in a different district and lost by double digits.

“This campaign was fueled by their energy and passion to make a positive difference in the lives of the hard-working people here in the Central Valley,” Cox said. “Voters across the district resonated with our message of expanding health care, creating good jobs and fighting for our families’ futures.”

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