Michelle Steel concedes in 45th Congressional District race [Video]

With her opponent steadily increasing his lead, Republican Rep. Michelle Steel conceded defeat Wednesday in her bid to retain the 45th Congressional District seat that includes parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties.

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“From the moment I came to the United States, I knew that giving back to the country that welcomed me with open arms would be part of my future,” Steel wrote in a statement. “Because of the opportunities offered by this great country, and God’s great blessings, I was able to go to college, start a family, and build my own American Dream. I embarked on a mission to assist First Generation Americans, stand up to our adversaries, and defend human rights.

“The journey to work on behalf of legal immigrants and struggling families took me somewhere I never could have imagined — and …