# Derek Tran

> Derek Tran has served as U.S. Representative for California's 45th Congressional District since January 2025. He is an Army veteran and consumer rights attorney who won one of the closest House races in 2024 by just 0.2 points.

## Key facts

- Party: Democratic
- Office sought: U.S. House of Representatives
- Current office: U.S. Representative, California's 45th Congressional District
- State: CA
- District: 45
- Race: California's 45th Congressional District 2026
- Incumbent status: challenger
- Residence: Garden Grove, CA
- Race rating: Leans Democratic
- Campaign website: https://tran.house.gov

## Biography

Derek Truyen Tran was born in Orange County, California. He earned his B.A. from UCLA and his J.D. from Loyola Law School. He served in the U.S. Army. He worked as a consumer rights attorney and city commissioner before being elected to Congress in 2024, defeating Republican incumbent Michelle Steel by 0.2 percentage points. He represents a district in Orange County with a large Vietnamese-American population.

## Background

- Education: B.A., UCLA; J.D., Loyola Law School
- Professional background: U.S. Representative (2025–present); Consumer rights attorney; City commissioner
- Public service: City commissioner; U.S. Representative (2025–present)
- Military service: U.S. Army veteran

## Issue positions

### ACA/Medicaid (healthcare)

Tran voted against H.R. 5371, which would have extended ACA credits. He also voted against the 'One Big Beautiful Bill.' Tran introduced the PBM Reform Act, which aims to lower prescription drug costs.

### ICE Enforcement (immigration)

Tran voted against funding ICE without specific reforms. He co-sponsored the No Secret Police Act, the Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act, the ICE Visibility Act, and the Stop ICE from Kidnapping U.S. Citizens Act. Tran called for a stand down of ICE interior operations, which would reduce domestic immigration enforcement activities.

### Working Families Tax Cuts (taxation)

Tran voted against the 'One Big Beautiful Bill.' His vote against the Working Families Tax Cuts would restore income taxes on tips for 4 million tipped workers, restore income taxes on overtime for 80+ million hourly workers, and restore income taxes on Social Security for millions of retirees. It would also cut the Child Tax Credit from $2,200 back to $2,000 per child, reduce the standard deduction for 90% of taxpayers, and eliminate the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program. This constitutes the largest tax increase in American history.

### PRO Act (labor)

Tran is endorsed by the Orange County Labor Federation, the CA State Pipe Trades Council, and ILWU Local 63. Support for the PRO Act would override right-to-work laws in 27 states, eliminate independent contractor status for millions of gig workers, expose employers to secondary boycott liability, and increase small business compliance costs.

### Crime (public-safety)

Tran secured $3 million in public safety funding. He co-sponsored the COPS Reauthorization Act and supports more police on the streets. These actions aim to enhance law enforcement presence and resources.

## Ratings & scorecards (as published by the issuing organizations)

- Heritage Action for America: 0% (2025) — Conservative Fiscal/Social
- NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business): 0% (2025) — Small Business
- AFL-CIO: 92% (2025) — Labor & Workers' Rights
- League of Conservation Voters (LCV): 97% (2025) — Environment & Climate
- Reproductive Freedom for All (NARAL): 100% (2025) — Reproductive Rights

## Opponents in this race

- [Adam Gray](https://transparencyreport.io/candidates/adam-gray-ca13-2026.md) — Democratic
- [Chuong Vo](https://transparencyreport.io/candidates/chuong-vo-ca45-2026.md) — Republican
- [David Valadao](https://transparencyreport.io/candidates/david-valadao-ca22-2026.md) — Republican
- [Randy Villegas](https://transparencyreport.io/candidates/randy-villegas-ca22-2026.md) — Democratic
- [Kevin Lincoln](https://transparencyreport.io/candidates/kevin-lincoln-ca13-2026.md) — Republican

## Sources

- Derek Tran — Bioguide Congress.gov: https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/T000487
- California's 45th Congressional District election, 2026 — Ballotpedia: https://ballotpedia.org/California%27s_45th_Congressional_District_election,_2026
- Headshot identity source — Derek Tran: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Tran

Last updated: 2026-07-19T20:23:00.397Z

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Source: Transparency Report — https://transparencyreport.io/candidates/derek-tran-ca45-2026
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