It’s been a close race between two-term Republican Rep. Mimi Walters and Democratic consumer protection attorney Katie Porter.
Author Archives: Thy Vo
Thy is a reporter covering the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Westminster as well as transportation issues and the courts. She’s the daughter of two Vietnamese refugees and grew up in Anaheim and Orange County’s Little Saigon community. She speaks Vietnamese and conversational Mandarin Chinese.
During her time at Voice of OC, Thy has investigated nepotism and illegal contracts in the city of Garden Grove, an illegal pension arrangement by the Westminster city attorney and controversy over the use of publicly-funded mass mailers by county supervisors.
Thy has received accolades from the Orange County and Southern California Press Clubs, including a second place Best Public Affairs Story award from the OC Press Club for her story “Dick Jones’ Sweet Deal in Westminster,” and a third place Best Feature Story award from the SoCal Press Club for “Struggles of Second Generation Reveal Long Shadow of War.”
Before working for Voice of OC, Thy interned at the Santa Barbara Independent; China Economic Review in Shanghai, China; and Orange County Register. She graduated from Haverford College with a degree in political science.
Languages spoken: English, Vietnamese and Mandarin
Areas of expertise: Anaheim, Garden Grove, Westminster, immigration, pension issues, court coverage and transportation.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Two Candidates Compete in Diverse 39th Congressional District
Mexican-American Democrat, philanthropist Gil Cisneros, and Korean-American Republican, former state Assemblywoman Young Kim, are competing to represent voters in the 39th Congressional District, the most diverse of seven California congressional districts targeted by national Democrats.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Health & Wellness, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Federal Lawsuit Alleges Inmate Suicide Caused by Poor Jail Policies and Mental Health Care
The suicide death of an inmate who was awaiting trial is raising questions about mental health care and safety checks on inmates in Orange County jail facilities. A federal judge called some of the mental health policies “problematic.”
Posted inCountywide, Politics & Elections, Top Stories
Rep. Mimi Walters Battles Katie Porter in Close 45th Congressional District Race
It’s a close race between incumbent Rep. Mimi Walters, a Republican, and her challenger Democrat Katie Porter. The race is one of four contested seats in Orange County that could decide whether Democrats take control of the House of Representatives.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Politics & Elections, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
OC Sheriff Election A Referendum on Embattled Department
Republican Undersheriff Donald Barnes and Los Angeles District Attorney Investigator Duke Nguyen, a Democrat, are vying to replace retiring Sheriff Sandra Hutchens on Nov. 6, in a contest that will test whether years of scandal and controversies have affected how voters view the embattled department.
Posted inEconomy, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, La Habra, La Palma, Laguna Beach, Placentia, Politics & Elections, San Clemente, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Top Stories, Tustin, Westminster
Tax Increases Go Before Voters in Seven OC Cities
Seven Orange County cities are asking voters to approve tax increases on Nov.6, including five proposed sales tax increases, two measures to raise hotel bed taxes and a new tax on legal marijuana dispensaries.
Posted inCountywide, Politics & Elections, Top Stories
Voice of OC Media Partners: Will Democrats Get Their “Blue Wave” on Election Day?
Voters could signal a new political reality in California if National Democrats get the “blue wave” they’ve been hoping for in Orange County and flip four Republican-held congressional seats this year, said panelists from the New York Times, Southern California Public Radio (SCPR) and Voice of OC Tuesday.
Posted inAnaheim, Politics & Elections
Unprecedented Spending in Another Pivotal Anaheim Election
On Nov. 6, voters will select a new city council majority and vote on a controversial minimum wage initiative requiring taxpayer-subsidized businesses to pay their workers more.
Posted inBuena Park, Countywide, Fullerton, Politics & Elections, Top Stories
Newsom and Garcetti Campaign for Orange County Democratic Congressional Hopefuls
California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti stopped in Orange County Saturday as part of their own campaigns and to stump for Democratic Congressional hopefuls, in a last-minute push by Democrats to energize voters ahead of the Nov. 6 election.
Posted inAnaheim, Economy, Transportation
City and Anaheim Ducks Propose 25-Year Lease and Development Around Honda Center
The Angels, Anaheim’s baseball team may be looking to leave, but the city’s hockey team, the Anaheim Ducks, are negotiating a new 25-year lease and development project around the Honda Center.
