Derek Tran, a veteran attorney, seeks reelection in California’s 45th District against five challengers with varied local and national priorities.
A congressional race in California’s 45th District is setting up a crowded contest, with incumbent Derek Tran facing five challengers vying for the seat.
Tran, an attorney and U.S.. Army veteran, has tied his campaign to his work and background, including running a pharmacy with his wife.. He is the son of refugees who fled communist Vietnam and grew up in the San Gabriel Valley. a personal history that shapes the way he frames his public service.. In his first term. Tran highlighted efforts aimed at reducing processing delays for small businesses and individuals seeking Social Security and small business loan payouts. as well as funding tied to flood prevention infrastructure for the city of Cypress.
In this context, the race is less about a single headline and more about competing visions for how a member of Congress can translate local needs into federal action.
Tran has also pointed to legislative priorities tied to national security and the military.. His work has included advancing proposals such as the Warrior Act. which would codify a woman’s ability to serve in combat roles in the Armed Forces.. He has also co-authored measures intended to protect small research and innovation entities from foreign interference and cyber threats.
Among the challengers, Tom Vo brings a personal story of displacement alongside a résumé shaped by community business.. Born in Vietnam and later arriving in Southern California as a refugee after the Vietnam War. he opened a taekwondo studio with multiple locations and has worked in real estate.. Chi Charlie Nguyen, the mayor of Westminster, previously served on the city council and a waste management board.. Nguyen. 61. said he left Vietnam at 14 after his father was taken to a “reeducation camp. ” and he frames his candidacy around returning the favor of opportunity while arguing that politics has drifted too far left.
Meanwhile. Chuong Vo. a 50-year-old who recently retired after more than two decades with the Torrance Police Department. has emphasized community safety and honesty in politics as motivation for running.. He said he planned his retirement around time with his son. but later concluded that crime increased. costs rose. and political discourse became harsher.. Amy Phan West, also 45, is the second member of the Westminster City Council in the race.. She describes her family’s path to the United States through refugee experiences and said her campaign centers on standing up to President Trump and the “America First” movement.
At the center of the field is also Mark Leonard, a 36-year-old U.S.. Marine Corps veteran and operations analyst.. He said he is running because he believes the district deserves a candidate who “shows up for everyone. ” drawing from the daily realities he hears from residents and from his experience in the Corps.. His priorities include housing costs, job security, and healthcare.
For voters, the crowded nature of the contest means the question may ultimately come down to which candidate best reflects their immediate concerns while offering a credible path to federal results.