Derek Tran
U.S. House · CA-45 · Democrats · since 2025
alsoCandidate for U.S. House · CA-45
Biography
Overview
Derek Tran is a Democratic U.S. Representative from California's 45th congressional district, serving since January 2025. The third Vietnamese American elected to Congress, Tran is a former Army Reserve officer and attorney. He grew up in the San Gabriel Valley as the son of Vietnamese refugees and represents a majority-minority district in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Career
In his first year, Tran introduced legislation to reinstate veterans terminated during federal layoffs by the Department of Government Efficiency and co-leads the House Democratic National Security Task Force. He is an Executive Board Member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam and Congressional Taiwan Caucus. His legislative work reflects priorities around veterans, Asian American representation, and national security.
Prior political experience
Tran won California's 45th congressional district seat in the 2024 general election in one of the closest races of the cycle. In the March 2024 primary, Tran placed second behind Republican incumbent Michelle Steel by 366 votes. In the November general election, Tran defeated Steel by just 653 votes out of nearly 316,000 cast, with national figures like Bill Clinton and Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries campaigning for him. The race became the most expensive House campaign that cycle, with at least $46 million spent.
Biographical material adapted from the Wikipedia article (retrieved April 29, 2026), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Ideology
Liberal–Conservative (DW-NOMINATE dim 1)
Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)
Campaigns targeting Derek Tran
No active campaigns target Derek Tran right now.
Start a campaign targeting Derek TranOfficeholding history
| Term | Seat | Term dates | Termination | Predecessor | Successor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | U.S. House CA-45 | 2025–present | In progress | — | — |
Committee assignments
- Oversight, Investigations, and RegulationsHouseRanking Member· 2025–present
- Contracting and InfrastructureHouse· 2025–present
- Intelligence and Special OperationsHouse· 2025–present
- House· 2025–present
- ReadinessHouse· 2025–present
- House· 2025–present
Current term legislation
Bills sponsored this term8
- H.R. 8066
Carlton H. Ingram Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act
Mar 24, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7969
Combating Chinese Communist Party Influence Act
Mar 17, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 6902
Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act
Dec 18, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 6678
Senior Legal Hotline Act of 2025
Dec 11, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 5788
504 Program Risk Oversight Act
Oct 17, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 4775
SBIR/STTR Foreign Interference Safeguard Act
Jul 25, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 4746
Baby Food Tax Relief Act
Jul 23, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 1637
Protect Veteran Jobs Act
Feb 26, 2025IN_COMMITTEE
Bills cosponsored this term10
- H.R. 8218
Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act
Apr 9, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8175
To amend title 10, United States Code, and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994, to codify and clarify gender neutral standards for members of certain Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
Apr 2, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7973
Momnibus Act
Mar 18, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7977
To provide relief from high energy bills, and for other purposes.
Mar 18, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7903
Justice for Hind Rajab Act
Mar 12, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7852
No Getting Rich in Congress Act
Mar 5, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7645
Ceasefire Compliance Act of 2026
Feb 23, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7613
ALERT Act
Feb 20, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7481
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
Feb 11, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7398
Passports for Purple Hearts and Medals of Honor Act
Feb 5, 2026IN_COMMITTEE
Elections
| Year | Seat | Result | Vote share | Field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | U.S. House CA-45 | Pending | 50.10% |
|