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Derek Tran

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Derek Tran
Member-elect of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 45th district
Assuming office
January 3, 2025
SucceedingMichelle Steel
Personal details
Born
Duc Truyen Tran[1]

(1980-12-22) December 22, 1980 (age 44)
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMichelle Nguyen[2]
Children3
EducationBentley University (BS)
Glendale University (JD)
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army

Derek Truyen Tran (born December 22, 1980)[3][4] is an American labor lawyer, veteran, and politician. He is the member-elect for the United States House of Representatives from California's 45th congressional district after defeating Republican incumbent Michelle Steel in the 2024 election. [5]

Tran is the third Vietnamese American to be elected to the U.S. Congress, and the first to represent California.

Background

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Tran grew up in the San Gabriel Valley as the son of Vietnamese refugees.[6] His father fled Vietnam after the 1975 Fall of Saigon as boat people. Their boat capsized, killing his wife and children. Later, his father returned to Vietnam where he would meet Tran's mother, after which they immigrated to the United States together.[7]

When he turned 18, Tran enlisted in the United States Army.[8][9] He spent eight years serving.[10] Afterward, Tran went to law school. In 2012, he moved to Orange County, California.[11]

Career

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Tran has worked as an attorney since 2014; he started his own firm called Tran Firm in Huntington Beach in 2020.[12] Specifically, he has worked as a consumer rights, labor rights, and personal injury attorney.[13] In 2023, Feher Law, a practice in Torrance, acquired Tran's firm.[14]

Tran has served on the board of the Consumer Attorneys Association of America.[11] He has also served as a traffic commissioner for Orange.[15] With his wife, he co-owns a pharmacy in Anaheim and tutors underprivileged children at a nearby school.[16]

During the 2024 House election, Tran was under fire for previously supporting legal clients who had employment terminated due to workplace incidents such as sexual harassment, sexual assault, and hanging a noose.[17]

2024 House election

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See also: 2024 California's 45th congressional district election
Tran (center) with fellow Democratic candidates in 2024.

At the end of 2023, Tran announced that he would enter the Democratic primary in a bid to become the party's nominee for the U.S. Representative seat in California's 45th congressional district.[16] In March, Tran secured his position as the Democratic nominee, beating another candidate, Kim Nguyen-Penaloza, by 366 votes.[18]

After winning the March primary, Tran became the Democratic nominee to challenge Michelle Steel, a Republican running for a third term.[19] The district is considered a "battleground district" insofar as it was won by Joe Biden in 2020 but has its seat occupied by a member of the Republican Party.[20] Tran's campaign has emphasized the centrality of his Vietnamese American identity to his bid, as the district encompasses parts of Los Angeles County and Orange County and is considered a majority-minority district, including cities Westminster and Garden Grove, which have predominantly Vietnamese American communities, as well as Artesia and Cerritos where Asian Americans are the largest demographic by race.[21]/>[22] ABC 7 reported that the district was 39% Asian.[23]

In October, Hakeem Jeffries stumped for Tran at a party event in Anaheim, stating that the race would be close.[24] In November, Bill Clinton appeared in Orange County to stump for Tran as well as Dave Min, a state senator in a similarly tight race.[25]

Outreach to Vietnamese community

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During the campaign, Steel claimed that she understood and worked with the Vietnamese community in the district much better than Tran. Shortly after, Tran called the remarks "insulting and disgraceful."[23] The Asian American Action Fund subsequently condemned Steel's comments.[20] In August 2024, the New York Post called out Tran for bringing a translator with him to interviews and events, questioning whether he was actually fluent in Vietnamese.[26] Steel's campaign additionally used Tran's false claims of proficiency as a point of criticism.[27] At the end of August, Tran admitted to the Los Angeles Times that he had lost his childhood fluency and has since spoken "broken Vietnamese."[10] However, Tran's campaign additionally provided a series of video clips in which Tran occasionally spoke Vietnamese on television.[28]

In May 2024, Tran attempted to draw distinctions between his own family background to that of Steel's, stating that Steel immigrated to the United States for "economic gain," not because she was a refugee fleeing communism.[29] Several Asian American leaders and organizations subsequently condemned Tran's comment and asked him to apologize to Steel.[30]

Allegations of communist sympathies

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In the months leading up to the 2024 election, Tran accused Steel's husband, Shawn, of accepting bribes from the Chinese Communist Party in exchange for information, stating that Steel thus could not be trusted with political office in the United States.[7][31]

Later, on October 22, 2024, the Los Angeles Times reported that Steel's campaign was sending out campaign mailers associating Tran with Mao Zedong and accusing him of supporting socialism. Following Tran's disclosure in August that he held cryptocurrencies, Steel also claimed that his cryptocurrency assets were bound up in China.[7] In the ensuing controversy, Steel defended her position, stating it was a provoked defense from Tran's earlier messaging.[32] The mutual accusations caused several Asian American nonprofits to pen a letter to both parties stating that such rhetoric should not be used in the race.[23]

Political positions

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Law enforcement

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Tran has expressed support for Proposition 36, or the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, arguing that it will maintain order but also provide rehabilitation and "second chances" to community members.[15]

Economy

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Tran supports a tax deduction on state and local taxes on California, stating it causes undue burden to the middle-class living in the state. He has also expressed his desire to reduce taxes and eliminate bureaucratic red tape to support small businesses and middle-class families nationwide; he is additionally interested in investing in manufacturing in the United States, combating price gouging, protecting labor rights, and making the minimum wage livable.[15][20]

Social services

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Tran has expressed his support for protecting Medicare and Social Security.[11]

Housing

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Tran supports federal funding for affordable housing through expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, endorsing public–private partnerships, and creating new grants at the federal level to help local and state governments nationwide with low- and middle-income households.[11] With regard to homelessness, he supports a Housing First approach as well as investments in mental health and substance abuse services.[15]

Environment

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Tran has refused donations from the fossil fuel industry.[33] He has stated his intentions to invest more money into Southern California's infrastructure to support public transportation and jobs in clean energy. He supports renewable energy and has indicated that he would ban offshore drilling while endorsing policies that develop clean energy, impose penalties on polluting entities, and protect water in the state of California.[15][11]

Reproductive health

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Tran considers abortion to be a "number one issue" in his district.[34] He supports nationwide legislation that provides access to in vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments as well as reproductive rights writ large, stating that individuals should be able to make medical and health decisions about their own bodies without government interference; he also stated he would vote for abortion rights at the federal level and that he supports Planned Parenthood.[15][11]

Immigration

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Tran has criticized the Republican Party's hardball stance on immigration, stating that mass deportations were inhumane.[35] He has shared his own ideas for immigration reform that emphasizes technology and officer training, modernizing asylum procedures, and "a fair path to citizenship for the undocumented immigrants who are already contributing to our economy and society."[33][15] He also stated that he would reintroduce the bipartisan border security bill that previously did not pass.[15]

Healthcare

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Tran stated that he would take on insurance companies and the pharmaceutical industry in order to reduce the costs of health care and prescription drugs.

Supreme Court

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When asked about Joe Biden's proposed reforms to the U.S. Supreme Court, Tran specifically advocated for justices to put all of their relevant assets into blind trusts, to be forbidden from accepting gifts, and to be especially scrutinized for potentially "partisan actions they or their family members may be engaged in."[15] Ahead of the March primary in 2024, he stated that Clarence Thomas's behavior around gifts was unacceptable. However, Tran does not support an expansion of the courts.[33]

Artificial intelligence

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Tran supports federal-level regulations on artificial intelligence in order to minimize deepfakes, establish penalties for misuse, and clearly label generated content.[15]

Foreign policy

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Tran has declared support for America's allies, specifically Ukraine and Israel, as well as the broader principle of promoting democracy and stability across the globe.[33]

Age limits

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Tran has indicated interest in the possibility of age limits for presidential and Congressional candidates.[15]

Personal life

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Tran lives in Orange with his wife, Michelle, and their three children.[6] He is a fan of electronic dance music.[15]

References

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  1. ^ "Licensee Profile: George R. Sample, Bar Number: 295917". California State Bar. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  2. ^ "Democrat Derek Tran wins election to U.S. House in California's 45th Congressional District, beating incumbent Michelle Steel". KTLA. November 27, 2024.
  3. ^ "California New Members 2025". The Hill. December 11, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  4. ^ "Licensee Profile: George R. Sample, Bar Number: 295917". California State Bar. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  5. ^ Nelson, Laura J. (November 27, 2024). "Democrat Derek Tran ousts Republican Michelle Steel in competitive Orange County House race". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^ a b Kang, Hanna (November 6, 2024). "2024 Election Results: Rep. Michelle Steel leads Derek Tran by 58 votes in California's 45th congressional district". Orange County Register. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Nelson, Laura J.; Hernandez, Angie Orellana (October 22, 2024). "'Red-baiting' accusations fly between congressional campaigns in competitive Orange County race". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  8. ^ "Two Asian Americans in tight race for CA's AAPI heavy 45th District". Spectrum News 1. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  9. ^ "California's District 45, House of Representatives: Steel vs Tran - Election results". abc10.com. November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Nelson, Laura J. (August 30, 2024). "Will a Vietnamese American candidate help Democrats win a congressional seat in Little Saigon?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e f Hernandez, Angie Orellana (October 3, 2024). "Your guide to California's 45th Congressional District race: Steel vs. Tran". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  12. ^ Nguyen, Lilly (October 3, 2023). "Veteran and business owner Derek Tran announces bid to represent state's 45th District in Congress". Daily Pilot. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  13. ^ Mason, Melanie (September 18, 2024). "A Democrat in a key House race is running on his law career. It could be a liability". POLITICO.
  14. ^ Kang, Hanna (August 26, 2024). "How gender-based issues are playing a role in the race between Rep. Michelle Steel and Derek Tran". Orange County Register. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Schallhorn, Kaitlyn (October 4, 2024). "Derek Tran, CA-45 candidate, 2024 election questionnaire". Orange County Register. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Marans, Daniel (October 2, 2023). "Democrat Derek Tran Announces Bid For Key California House Seat". HuffPost. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  17. ^ Mason, Melanie (September 18, 2024). "A Democrat in a key House race is running on his law career. It could be a liability". HuffPost. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  18. ^ Kang, Hanna (March 25, 2024). "In CA-45 race, Rep. Michelle Steel and Derek Tran will face off in November". Orange County Register. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  19. ^ Huang, Josie (November 5, 2024). "This Orange County House race is the most expensive in the US". LAist. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  20. ^ a b c Montoya, Ruben (October 28, 2024). "Election: Republican held CA-45 Michelle Steel seat closely contested by Derek Tran". Daily Titan. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  21. ^ Tran, Ken (June 9, 2024). "How a California Democrat hopes to become Little Saigon's first Vietnamese House member". USA Today.
  22. ^ Fioresi, Dean (November 5, 2024). "Orange County Republican Rep. Michelle Steel faces Democrat Derek Tran in closely watched congressional race - CBS Los Angeles". CBS. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  23. ^ a b c Kang, Hanna (November 17, 2024). "Election 2024: Derek Tran takes slim lead in California's 45th congressional district". Orange County Register. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  24. ^ Mascaro, Lisa (October 14, 2024). "Democrat Hakeem Jeffries stumps in California in a bid to reclaim House control". AP News. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  25. ^ Kang, Hanna (October 26, 2024). "Former President Bill Clinton stumps for Dave Min and Derek Tran in Orange County". Orange County Register. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  26. ^ Christenson, Josh (August 30, 2024). "California House Dem candidate admits he's not fluent in Vietnamese — one day after The Post exposed him". New York Post. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  27. ^ Qin, Amy (October 31, 2024). "In Orange County, a Key House Race Could Come Down to Little Saigon Voters". The New York Times.
  28. ^ Kang, Hanna (September 6, 2024). "Derek Tran says he's fluent in Vietnamese. Rep. Michelle Steel's campaign says he's not". Orange County Register. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  29. ^ "Dems go outside to flip a key Orange County House seat". Punchbowl News. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  30. ^ Nguyen, Alex. "How a top House race became a fight over communism, immigration, and Asian American identity". Mother Jones. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  31. ^ Haskell, Josh (October 30, 2024). "Accusations of red-baiting in OC congressional race between Michelle Steel and Derek Tran". ABC7 Los Angeles. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  32. ^ Hernandez, Angie Orellana (November 6, 2024). "Steel and Tran locked in tight race for California's 45th Congressional District". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  33. ^ a b c d "Derek Tran, CA-45 candidate, 2024 primary election questionnaire". Orange County Register. January 21, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  34. ^ Peterson, Jenna; Kuang, Jeanne (October 21, 2024). "Why California Democrats believe abortion issue can win them back the U.S. House". CalMatters. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  35. ^ Kang, Hanna (October 21, 2024). "California's 45th congressional race is a close one between Rep. Michelle Steel and Derek Tran". Orange County Register. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 45th congressional district
Taking office 2025 		Elect
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