Maxine Waters poised to become oldest member of Congress despite GOP challenge in CA-43 – NBC Los Angeles

Maxine Waters poised to become oldest member of Congress despite GOP challenge in CA-43  NBC Los Angeles

The longtime congresswoman, 88, received the most votes in the June primary but fell short of winning the race outright, forcing a runoff. Rep. Maxine Waters is likely to become the oldest member of Congress despite the challenge by Republican Cristian Morales. Being older than former President Joe Biden is unlikely to deter Rep. Maxine Waters from seeking reelection to represent California’s 43rd Congressional District. Waters, who turned 88 in August, received four times as many votes as her Republican challenger, Cristian Morales, in the June primary. But because she failed to win the race outright, she must face the little-known GOP candidate in the November runoff. The longtime congresswoman, first elected to Congress in 1990, has represented the South Los Angeles and South Bay region for decades.

During her tenure, she weathered an ethics investigation after being accused of improperly using her influence to help a bank secure federal funding. Waters will also face a national trend of younger, outsider candidates gaining momentum, even in Democratic strongholds. The 43rd Congressional District includes Inglewood, Compton, Hawthorne and Torrance, with a sizable Black and Latino population. Waters brushed off concerns about her age in an interview with Politico, saying she has more energy than younger people. Morales describes himself as an “accomplished businessman.” According to his campaign website, he supports tax