Derek Tran

Last updated

Derek Tran
Trần Truyền Đức
Rep. Derek Tran Official Portrait.jpg
Official portrait, 2025
Member of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives
from California's 45th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2025
Signature Signature of Derek Tran.svg
Website
Military service
AllegianceFlag of the United States.svg United States
Branch/serviceFlag of the United States Army.svg United States Army
Years of service1998–2006
Derek Tran's voice
Rep. Derek Tran recognizes Veterans of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Day (Ngày Quân Lực) and Navy commander Vernon Jumper
Recorded July 14, 2025

Derek Truyen Tran (born December 22, 1980) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the U.S. representative from California's 45th congressional district since 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, Tran is the third Vietnamese American to be elected to Congress [a] and the first to represent California.

Contents

Background

Tran was born in Los Angeles County, California, on December 22, 1980. [4] [5] Tran grew up in the San Gabriel Valley as the son of Vietnamese refugees. [6] [7] His father fled Vietnam in 1975 after the fall of Saigon as a boat person. [8] Their boat capsized, resulting in the deaths of his first wife and children. Later, his father returned to Vietnam and met Tran's mother. After living in a refugee camp for about a year, [9] his parents immigrated to the U.S. and established a corner store. [10]

Tran claimed that his family's reliance on government assistance, such as SNAP, WIC, and Section 8, [10] inspired him to enlist in the United States Army when he turned 18 without telling his parents or friends. [11] [12] He spent eight years serving in the U.S. Army Reserve, [7] including some time spent training at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos. [13] [9] He was activated for Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Enduring Freedom before receiving an honorable discharge. Afterward, Tran attended Bentley University, graduating with a B.S. and a J.D. from Glendale University College of Law. [4] In 2012, he moved to Orange County, California. [14]

Career

Tran has worked as an attorney since 2014; in 2020, he founded his own law firm, the Tran Firm, in Huntington Beach. [15] The now-defunct firm's website said it focused on personal injury and employment law. In 2023, Feher Law, a practice based in Torrance, acquired Tran's firm. [16]

Tran has served on the board of the Consumer Attorneys Association of America and was appointed traffic commissioner for Orange. [14] [17] With his wife, he co-owns a pharmacy in Anaheim. [10]

During the 2024 House election, Tran received criticism from his opponent, Michelle Steel, for previously supporting legal clients who had employment terminated due to workplace incidents such as sexual harassment, sexual assault, and hanging a noose. [15]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2024

Tran (center) with fellow Democratic politicians Adam Gray, Dave Min, Will Rollins, and Adam Schiff in 2024. Dave Min Adam Gray Rudy Salas Derek Tran Will Rollins -2723.jpg
Tran (center) with fellow Democratic politicians Adam Gray, Dave Min, Will Rollins, and Adam Schiff in 2024.

At the end of 2023, Tran announced that he would enter the 2024 all-party "top two" primary in California's 45th congressional district. [10] HuffPost reported that, unlike other Democratic candidates who lacked financial support, Tran was a significant donor and fundraiser according to FEC campaign finance data. In March, 23 days after the primary, [18] it was determined that Republican incumbent Michelle Steel finished first while Tran had placed second by finishing ahead of Kim Nguyen-Penaloza by 366 votes. [19]

Steel was running for a third term [20] in the competitive "battleground district". [21] The majority-minority district encompasses parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties including the predominantly Vietnamese cities of Westminster, Fountain Valley, and Garden Grove in Little Saigon in addition to the predominantly Asian American communities of Artesia and Cerritos. [20] [22] Hence, Tran's campaign emphasized the centrality of his Vietnamese American identity to his bid. [23] KABC, the Los Angeles ABC affiliate, reported that the district was 39% Asian. [24]

Both Steel and Tran vied for support from the district's Vietnamese community. On October 19, Steel claimed to a Vietnamese TV station, VietFace TV, that she was "more Vietnamese than my opponent" due to a better understanding of the Vietnamese community. [25] [24] [8] [26] Tran challenged her claim of being more Vietnamese than a son of Vietnamese Americans, noting it was "insulting and disgraceful." [24] Steel's campaign also rejected Tran's claims of proficiency in Vietnamese as a point of criticism, noting his usage of a translator; yet, The New York Times reported that some Vietnamese in Little Saigon felt any claims of fluency were irrelevant to Tran's Vietnamese identity. [26] By the end of August, Tran admitted to the Los Angeles Times that he had lost his childhood fluency and had since spoken "broken Vietnamese". [7] Tran's campaign provided a series of video clips in which Tran occasionally spoke Vietnamese on television. [27]

The candidates exchanged accusations of communist sympathies, with some outlets identifying the remarks as red-baiting. [24] [8] [28] Referencing a 2020 The Wall Street Journal report, [29] Tran accused Steel's husband, Shawn Steel, 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. [30] [8] [24] He called attention to Michelle Steel's personal loan of a million dollars to her own campaign, asserting her campaign was "buoyed by finances connected to her husband's dealings with Chinese Communist Party associates". [31] [8] Later, Tran drew controversy by asserting to Punchbowl News that unlike his family who were Vietnamese refugees after the fall of Saigon, Steel misleadingly presented herself as a refugee or victim of communism and instead immigrated "for economic gain." [32] [33] Subsequently, on October 22, the Los Angeles Times reported that Steel's campaign mailed campaign fliers associating Tran with Mao Zedong and the hammer and sickle, warning Tran intended to "take our country back to socialism". [8] [26] Following Tran's disclosure [34] in August that he held cryptocurrencies, Steel also asserted in a mailer that, despite cryptocurrency being banned in China since 2021, Tran owned "thousands of dollars of cryptocurrency linked to China". [8] Steel defended her accusations, asserting that it was provoked by Tran's earlier messaging involving her husband. [35] The mutual accusations caused sixteen Asian American nonprofits, such as AJSOCAL, to write to the Orange County chairs of both political parties that rhetoric that falsely implied Asian American candidates were "national security threats" should not be used by candidates since it could promote the false narrative of Asian Americans as perpetual foreigners. [36] [8]

The race drew national attention due to its competitiveness, ultimately becoming the most expensive House campaign in the country with approximentally $46 million spent. [37] [38] In October, Hakeem Jeffries stumped for Tran at a campaign event in Anaheim, stating that the race would be close. [39] Later in the month, Bill Clinton also appeared in Orange County to stump for Tran as well as Dave Min. [40]

21 days after the election, Tran held a lead over Steel by 581 votes and had declared victory to LAist . [41] The next day, when the lead had grown by 32 votes, Steel conceded the district's seat to Tran, [42] [43] , and the Associated Press called the race for Tran. [44] Altogether, Tran defeated Steel in the general election by just 653 votes out of the nearly 316,000 cast, making the race one of the closest in the 2024 election cycle. [38]

Tenure

Tran's local district swearing-in ceremony to Congress, 2025 Derek Tran District swearing in ceremony (cropped).jpg
Tran's local district swearing-in ceremony to Congress, 2025

Tran was sworn into the 119th United States Congress on January 3, 2025, [45] and appointed to the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Small Business. [46] [13]

Following the widescale federal layoffs by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in 2025, Tran introduced legislation [47] that would reinstate six thousand veterans who were affected by the layoffs. [12] The Associated Press observed that while Tran's bill was unlikely to pass due to Republican control of the House, it exemplified "how Democrats are trying to harness public backlash to Trump's efforts to upend the federal government through the Department of Government Efficiency."

In May, Tran was chosen to co-lead the Democratic Party's congressional National Security Task Force alongside Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, and Mikie Sherrill. [48] [49] He regarded the Russo-Ukrainian War and the Chinese Communist Party, especially regarding the political status of Taiwan, as pressing issues related to national security. Tran warned that government cuts he viewed as excessive may weaken national security.

Committee assignments

For the 119th Congress: [46]

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Sara Jacobs (left) and Tran meet with service members at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. Service members meet with California's 45th congressional district representative Derek Tran and 51st congressional district representative Sara Jacobs during a meet and greet at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.jpg
Sara Jacobs (left) and Tran meet with service members at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.

Abortion

While campaigning, Tran considered abortion to be a "number one issue" in his district. [51] He supported nationwide access to in vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments, claiming that fighting for reproductive rights was crucial. [17] He also stated he would vote for abortion rights at the federal level and funding for Planned Parenthood. [14]

Crime

During his 2024 campaign, Tran expressed support for 2024 California Proposition 36, known as "The Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act". [17]

Economic policy

He expressed support for protecting Medicare and Social Security. [14] He also advocated for increasing federal funding for affordable housing initiatives by expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and building more housing units through public–private partnerships. [17]

Immigration

Tran has criticized the Republican Party's stance on immigration, stating that mass deportations are inhumane. [52] He has shared his own ideas for comprehensive immigration reform such as prioritizing border security through technology and officer training, modernizing asylum procedures, and providing "a fair path to citizenship for the undocumented immigrants who are already contributing to our economy and society." [52] [17] He also stated that he would reintroduce the bipartisan border security bill that had previously not passed. [17] He received attention as one of 46 House Democrats who broke from their party in voting for the Laken Riley Act, which enforced the detention of undocumented immigrants accused of theft-related crimes. [53] [54] Later, in June, the Vietnamese immigrant rights group VietRISE criticized Tran for voting for a resolution [55] that expressed gratitude to members of law enforcement, including ICE, instead of opposing ICE's presence in Little Saigon. [56]

Judiciary

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 potential "partisan actions they or their family members may be engaged in." [17] Ahead of the March primary in 2024, he derided Clarence Thomas's behavior around gifts as unacceptable. [52] However, Tran conceded that he did not support an expansion of the courts but would rather impose term limits for justices. [52]

National security

In March 2025, Tran split from his party and voted for a bill [57] intended to curb foreign influences in American higher education, warning against the influence of the Chinese Communist Party in U.S. academic institutions. [58]

Personal life

Tran lives in the city of Orange with his wife, Michelle, and their three children. [6] [59] Tran is a Buddhist. [60]

Electoral history

California's 45th congressional district, 2024 [61] [62]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Michelle Steel (incumbent)78,02254.9
Democratic Derek Tran22,54615.9
Democratic Kim Bernice Nguyen-Penaloza22,17915.6
Democratic Cheyenne Hunt11,9738.4
Democratic Aditya Pai7,3995.2
Total votes142,119 100.0
General election
Democratic Derek Tran 158,264 50.1
Republican Michelle Steel (incumbent)157,61149.9
Total votes315,875 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The first two were Joseph Cao of Louisiana and Stephanie Murphy of Florida. [2] [3]

References

  1. ↑ "Licensee Profile: Duc T. Tran, Bar Number: 295917". State Bar of California . September 8, 2025. Archived from the original on April 4, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024. Duc T. Tran (aka Derek Truyen Tran) #295917
  2. ↑ Tran, Derek (April 29, 2025). "Recognizing Black April". Congressional Record . Vol. 171, no. 71 (daily ed.). Washington, D.C.: United States Congress. p. H1691. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 19, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025. I am proud to be the third Vietnamese American ever elected to Congress, following Congressman Joseph Cao of Louisiana and Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy of Florida.
  3. ↑ Mason, Melanie (December 9, 2024). "This Vietnamese American Candidate Just Blew Up the Democratic Campaign Playbook". Politico . Archived from the original on December 9, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2025. Tran will not be the first Vietnamese American in Congress. That title belongs to Joseph Cao, a Louisiana Republican who served one term in the late aughts. There was also Stephanie Murphy, a Vietnamese American Democrat from Florida who retired last year.
  4. 1 2 "TRAN, Derek". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. January 6, 2025. Archived from the original on September 16, 2025. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  5. ↑ "California New Members 2025". The Hill . December 11, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024. Rep-elect Derek Tran (D-Calif.-45)... Date of Birth / Dec. 22, 1980
  6. 1 2 Kang, Hanna (November 6, 2024). "2024 Election Results: Michelle Steel leads Derek Tran in California's 45th congressional district". The Orange County Register . Archived from the original on November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 Nelson, Laura J. (August 30, 2024). "Will a Vietnamese American candidate help Democrats win a congressional seat in Little Saigon?". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on June 14, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Nelson, Laura J.; Hernandez, Angie Orellana (October 22, 2024). "'Red-baiting' accusations fly between congressional campaigns in competitive Orange County race". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on November 2, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  9. 1 2 "About". Representative Derek Tran. January 3, 2025. Archived from the original on July 4, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Marans, Daniel (October 2, 2023). "Democrat Derek Tran Announces Bid For Key California House Seat". HuffPost . Archived from the original on May 21, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Two Asian Americans in tight race for CA's AAPI heavy 45th District". Spectrum News 1. October 30, 2024. Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024. But being on government assistance really made me realize how much I loved this country and that's what propelled me to enlist in the military when I turned 18. It was just this sense of gratitude and wanting to give back to the country
  12. 1 2 Brown, Matt (February 26, 2025). "House Democrat introduces bill to reinstate veterans fired from the federal government under Trump". Associated Press . Archived from the original on February 26, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  13. 1 2 Kang, Hanna; Schallhorn, Kaitlyn (February 18, 2025). "OC Rep. Derek Tran answers questions about US global economic standing and immigration". The Orange County Register . Archived from the original on July 2, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Hernandez, Angie Orellana (October 3, 2024). "Your guide to California's 45th Congressional District race: Steel vs. Tran". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on January 17, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  15. 1 2 Mason, Melanie (September 18, 2024). "A Democrat in a key House race is running on his law career. It could be a liability". Politico . Archived from the original on September 18, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  16. ↑ Kang, Hanna (August 26, 2024). "How gender-based issues are playing a role in the race between Rep. Michelle Steel and Derek Tran". The Orange County Register . Archived from the original on July 4, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2024. In 2023, Torrance-based Feher Law acquired Tran's firm and took over all active cases in litigation, including [a 2021 San Bernardino case involving sexual assault].
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Schallhorn, Kaitlyn (October 4, 2024). "Derek Tran, CA-45 candidate, 2024 election questionnaire". The Orange County Register . Archived from the original on November 11, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  18. ↑ Lee, Brianna (November 5, 2024). "About California's vote". LAist . Archived from the original on September 19, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025. ...it took 23 days to call the second-place winner for Orange County's 45th congressional district — it ultimately went to Democrat Derek Tran
  19. ↑ Kang, Hanna (March 25, 2024). "In CA-45 race, Rep. Michelle Steel and Derek Tran will face off in November". The Orange County Register . Archived from the original on February 19, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2024. While Steel has consistently led the pack since the March 5 primary, the race was extremely close for the second-place spot. As of Monday morning in Orange and Los Angeles counties — both served by CA-45 — 366 votes separated Tran and Democrat Kim Nguyen-Penaloza...
  20. 1 2 Huang, Josie (November 5, 2024). "This Orange County House race is the most expensive in the US". LAist . Archived from the original on February 19, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  21. ↑ Fioresi, Dean (November 5, 2024). "Orange County Republican Rep. Michelle Steel faces Democrat Derek Tran in closely watched congressional race". CBS . Archived from the original on April 16, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  22. ↑ Kang, Hanna (September 6, 2024). "Rep. Michelle Steel's race with Democrat Derek Tran in CA-45 shifts to 'Republican toss up'". The Orange County Register . Retrieved September 21, 2025. CA-45 is a majority-minority district where the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam resides. The district also picks up Cerritos and Artesia in Los Angeles County, both where Asian residents make up the largest racial group.
  23. ↑ Tran, Ken (June 9, 2024). "Southern California micro-celebrity looks to make history in the House". USA Today . Archived from the original on May 4, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025. A key component behind Tran's campaign is his background and ability to connect with the Vietnamese population that Democrats believe no prior candidate could.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 Haskell, Josh (October 30, 2024). "Accusations of red-baiting in OC congressional race between Michelle Steel and Derek Tran". ABC7 Los Angeles . Archived from the original on November 1, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  25. ↑ Steel, Michelle (October 19, 2024). "Bầu cử Little Saigon: Dân Biểu Michelle Steel - 30 Năm Phục Vụ Cộng Đồng | October 19, 2024" [Little Saigon Election: Representative Michelle Steel - 30 Years of Community Service]. VietFace TV (Interview). Interviewed by Đỗ Vinh, Joe. Fountain Valley, California. Event occurs at 17:33 – via YouTube. You know what I think I am more Vietnamese than my opponent. My opponent might have Vietnamese name, but you know what, I understand Vietnamese community, and I've been working with Vietnamese American community for last more than thirty years.
  26. 1 2 3 Qin, Amy (October 31, 2024). "In Orange County, a Key House Race Could Come Down to Little Saigon Voters". The New York Times . Archived from the original on June 26, 2025. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  27. ↑ Kang, Hanna (September 6, 2024). "Derek Tran says he's fluent in Vietnamese. Rep. Michelle Steel's campaign says he's not". The Orange County Register . Archived from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024. Tran's campaign declined to comment directly on his Vietnamese proficiency but provided a series of video clips in which Tran speaks the language.
  28. ↑ Nguyen, Alex (December 9, 2024). "How Democrats (just barely) flipped America's most expensive House seat". Mother Jones . Archived from the original on May 21, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  29. ↑ Spegele, Brian (June 23, 2020). "Political Donors Linked to China Won Access to Trump, GOP". The Wall Street Journal . Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2025. As guests of a Republican official named Shawn Steel, Chinese nationals, including a man working for China's central government, attended an invitation-only gathering in May 2017 where GOP leaders discussed campaign strategies and other issues... Accompanying Mr. [David Tian] Wang [, a pro-Trump organizer,] to the meeting as Mr. Steel's guests were three men linked to China's government.
  30. ↑ Tran, Derek [@derektranCA45] (May 21, 2024). "Meet Shawn Steel, @MichelleSteel's husband and former business partner. The Wall Street Journal and OC Register reported that Shawn was implicated in a scandal for selling access to Chinese Communist Party officials and funneling their money to politicians. #CA45" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  31. ↑ "Corrupt Michelle Steel's $1M Loan Exposed as Lifeline for Struggling Campaign". Derek Tran For Congress. July 24, 2024. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  32. ↑ Cohen, Max (May 29, 2024). "Dems go outside to flip a key Orange County House seat". Punchbowl News . Archived from the original on June 22, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2024. Michelle still tries to run on that she's a refugee or she tried to flee communism. No, that's not true at all... She came to this country for economic gain. That's not the same as losing one's country after the fall of Saigon in '75 and having no home.
  33. ↑ Nguyen, Alex (October 4, 2024). "How a top House race became a fight over communism, immigration, and Asian American identity". Mother Jones . Archived from the original on August 12, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025. In May, Tran sparked his own controversy when he told Punchbowl News that although Steel presents herself as a Korean refugee who fled communism, she actually moved to the US for 'economic gain.'
  34. ↑ Tran, Derek (August 9, 2024). "Financial Disclosure report" (PDF). Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives . Archived (PDF) from the original on August 13, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  35. ↑ Hernandez, Angie Orellana (November 6, 2024). "Steel and Tran locked in tight race for California's 45th Congressional District". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on April 27, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  36. ↑ Foo, Mary Anne; Choi, Cynthia; Thomas, Karla; Huang, Priscilla; Lu, Timmy; Ahn, Ellen; Hoang, Hoang; Kim, Nam Hyee; Joe, Connie Chung; Pan, Vincent; Choi, Cynthia; Kulkarni, Manjusha; Syed, Shakeel; Nguyen, Mary; Nguyen, Tricia; Chung, Yulan; Edwards, Alison; Suh, Dong (October 22, 2024). "Open Letter to the Republican and Democratic Parties of Orange County on the Harmful Use of Anti-Asian Rhetoric". Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California . Archived from the original on March 26, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025. ...imprecise and inflammatory rhetoric can create the false narrative that targets Asian Americans as untrustworthy, anti-American or "perpetual foreigners"... we call on your Parties to explicitly reject political strategies that baselessly suggest Asian American political opponents have ties to the Chinese Community Party, communist affiliations, or foreign entities that threaten US national security.
  37. ↑ Mason, Melanie (November 27, 2024). "Democrat Derek Tran ousts Michelle Steel in CA House battle". Politico . Archived from the original on November 29, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2025. Steel, a two-term congressmember, had been an elusive target for Democrats, occupying an Orange County district that had backed President Joe Biden in the 2020 election. The race ended up being the most expensive House battle in the country, with at least $46 million spent by the campaigns and an array of outside groups.
  38. 1 2 Nelson, Laura J. (November 27, 2024). "Democrat Derek Tran ousts Republican Michelle Steel in competitive Orange County House race". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on August 27, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  39. ↑ Mascaro, Lisa (October 14, 2024). "Democrat Hakeem Jeffries stumps in California in a bid to reclaim House control". Associated Press . Archived from the original on December 25, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024. Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries crisscrossed Southern California over the weekend in... Little Saigon in Orange County. "This is going to be a close race," Jeffries told the crowd.
  40. ↑ Kang, Hanna (October 26, 2024). "Former President Bill Clinton stumps for Dave Min and Derek Tran in Orange County". The Orange County Register . Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  41. ↑ Stoltze, Frank (November 26, 2024). "Derek Tran declares victory over Michelle Steel in closely watched House race". LAist . Archived from the original on May 6, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  42. ↑ Huang, Josie (November 27, 2024). "Republican Michelle Steel concedes 45th House seat to Democrat Derek Tran". LAist . Archived from the original on January 11, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  43. ↑ Steel, Michelle [@MichelleSteelCA] (November 27, 2024). "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..." (Tweet). Retrieved September 19, 2025– via Twitter.
  44. ↑ "AP Race Call: Democrat Derek Tran wins election to U.S. House in California's 45th Congressional District, beating incumbent Michelle Steel". Associated Press . November 27, 2024. Archived from the original on February 26, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  45. ↑ Schallhorn, Kaitlyn (January 4, 2025). "Dave Min and Derek Tran, OC's newest House members, are sworn in". The Orange County Register . Archived from the original on August 19, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025. Reps. Dave Min, D-Irvine, and Derek Tran, D-Orange, were sworn into the House on Friday, Jan. 3, as the 119th Congress got underway.
  46. 1 2 "Derek Tran (California (CA), 119th Congress Profile". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives . January 3, 2025. Archived from the original on June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  47. ↑ H.R. 1637
  48. ↑ Schallhorn, Kaitlyn (July 2, 2025). "Rep. Derek Tran tapped to lead Democrats' national security task force". The Orange County Register . Archived from the original on July 3, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
  49. ↑ "Chairman Aguilar Relaunches National Security Task Force To Ensure America Remains Leader Of The Free World". House Democrats . June 24, 2025. Archived from the original on July 2, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
  50. ↑ "119th Congress Membership". Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). May 1, 2023. Archived from the original on August 22, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  51. ↑ Kuang, Jeanne; Peterson, Jenna (October 21, 2024). "Why California Democrats believe abortion issue can win them back the U.S. House". CalMatters . Archived from the original on December 26, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024. Tran told CalMatters abortion is a "number one" issue in the district.
  52. 1 2 3 4 Schallhorn, Kaitlyn; Bahnsen, Annika; Kang, Hanna; Torres, Destiny (January 21, 2024). "Derek Tran, CA-45 candidate, 2024 primary election questionnaire". The Orange County Register . Archived from the original on April 17, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  53. ↑ Wheeler, Jacob (January 29, 2025). "The California Democrats who voted for the Laken Riley Act". NBC Los Angeles . Archived from the original on February 4, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
  54. ↑ Kang, Hanna (February 4, 2025). "New Democrats in OC's swing districts break from party majority on immigration bills". The Orange County Register . Archived from the original on February 6, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2025. That includes Min and Tran, who broke with most of their party to support the Laken Riley Act, which gives ICE the power to detain undocumented immigrants accused of theft-related crimes and allows states to sue the federal government over immigration enforcement decisions
  55. ↑ H.R. 488
  56. ↑ González, David (June 19, 2025). "Orange County Vietnamese community leaders demand end to ICE raids, call out Congressman Derek Tran". ABC7 Los Angeles . Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
  57. ↑ H.R. 1048
  58. ↑ Kang, Hanna; Schallhorn, Kaitlyn (March 27, 2025). "Why an Orange County Democrat split with his party on a bill to curb foreign influence in higher education". The Orange County Register . Archived from the original on July 23, 2025. Retrieved September 21, 2025. A bill designed to limit foreign influence in U.S. universities divided Orange County's congressional delegation... Only one Orange County Democrat, Rep. Derek Tran, joined Republicans in voting for the legislation, called the DETERRENT Act... 'I voted yes... to ensure that malign actors like the Chinese Communist Party can't influence or steal these innovations developed on our shores.'
  59. ↑ "Democrat Derek Tran wins election to U.S. House in California's 45th Congressional District, beating incumbent Michelle Steel". KTLA . November 27, 2024. Archived from the original on November 28, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2025. The Tran family, Derek Tran, his wife Michelle Nguyen, and children Landen, 2, Bryson, 8, and Olivia, 6...
  60. ↑ Diamant, Jeff (January 2, 2025). "Faith on the Hill". Pew Research Center . Archived from the original on July 17, 2025. Retrieved January 25, 2025. Three Buddhists are set to serve in the new Congress, an increase of one. They include... freshman Rep. Derek Tran, D-Calif.
  61. ↑ "Statement of Vote" (PDF). sos.ca.gov. Sacramento: Secretary of State of California. 2024. p. 89. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 18, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  62. ↑ "Statement of Vote" (PDF). sos.ca.gov. Sacramento: Secretary of State of California. 2024. p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 30, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member from California's 45th congressional district
2025–present		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
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