An idea considered fringe less than a year ago – launching a formal impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump – is now backed by more than half of all Democrats in the House of Representatives and by an overwhelming majority of Southern California’s congressional delegation.

The seven Democrats who represent parts of Orange County are split between being ready to pursue at least an impeachment inquiry or not being ready yet, but none had ruled it out.

As of mid-day Friday, headcounts from Politico and CNN showed that 118 Democrats in the House publicly support an impeachment inquiry, exactly one more than half of the chamber’s 235 Democrats. One former Republican, Justin Amash, of Michigan, also supports an inquiry.

While some representatives have pushed for impeachment since early in the Trump administration, the numbers have shifted quickly in recent days. At least 23 House members have come out publicly for impeachment since July 24, when former Special Counsel Robert Mueller testified before Congress that his office found Russia illegally worked to sway American voters to elect Trump over Hillary Clinton in 2016, and that the Trump campaign welcomed Russia’s help. Mueller said his team also found at least 10 instances in which Trump moved to block or halt their investigation, and that Trump did not tell the full truth in written responses to his inquiry.

Based on a mix of those findings and politics, impeachment is more popular than 50-50 among local representatives.

Of the 26 congressional seats that touch Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, 23 are currently held by Democrats – 16 of whom are on record supporting at least an inquiry into impeachment.

It’s unclear if the growing sentiment will lead to formal articles of impeachment.

As of Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco – who represents the single most anti-Trump congressional district in the country based on 2016 election results – was sticking with her strategy of letting ongoing House investigations and legal actions against Trump play out before moving to impeach. A Quinnipiac University poll from July 28 found most Americans agree with her. Only 32% of all voters currently support impeachment, including 61% of Democrats, 28% of independents and 3% of Republicans.

But backers of impeachment point out that the impeachment process could boost the House’s standing in its legal fights with the Trump administration. Others believe it’s their constitutional responsibility to rein in the president, even if the idea isn’t popular with voters nationally.

While the three Republican House members from Southern California – Paul Cook, CA-8, Yucca Valley, Ken Calvert, CA-42, Corona and Duncan Hunter, CA-50, Alpine – oppose impeachment, here’s a look at where members of Congress who represent parts of Orange County stand. This list includes people who believe they’ve already seen enough to oust Trump, some who favor impeachment because it will help Congress in court, and others who favor an inquiry that might or might not lead them to vote for impeachment:

Linda Sanchez, D-Whittier, CA-38, NOT YET: In July, Sanchez was one of 137 Democrats in the House to vote against an impeachment resolution. In May, she told NPR: “I think impeachment is always on the table. I always think that that’s a tool in the toolbox, but one of the ones that you use when you’ve run out of other options.”

Gil Cisneros, D-Yorba Linda, CA-39, NOT YET: In July, Cisneros told the Register: “I have maintained that we need to let Congress perform its constitutional right of investigating the administration, and determine the extent that Russians meddled in our elections, and how the Trump campaign was involved.”

Katie Porter, D-Irvine, CA-45, YES: In June, via video, Porter said “… After weeks of study, deliberation and conversations with Orange County families, I’ve decided to support an impeachment investigation of the President.”

Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana, CA-46, NOT YET: In July, Correa told the Register, “… We are continuing to do what we are supposed to do, which is… our investigation, our oversight; continuing to dig into the Mueller report to see what’s there.”

Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, CA-47, YES: In June, Lowenthal tweeted: “… Our democracy was attacked by a foreign power, and there is evidence that the president obstructed justice. Congress must hold him accountable. I believe the time has come to consider an impeachment inquiry.”

Harley Rouda, D-Laguna Beach, CA-48, YES: In a July 24 statement Rouda said: “… After reading the entirety of Robert Mueller’s report (twice), and witnessing the Trump Administration fail repeatedly to comply with constitutionally sanctioned subpoenas from Congress, I have decided to support the opening of an impeachment inquiry…. This isn’t about party — this is about country.”

Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, CA-49, YES: Levin, said via Twitter and video last month that he… “Can’t ignore the corruption and obstruction we witness every day from President Trump…. I must now support an impeachment inquiry in order to get the truth for my constituents.”