Derek TranIncumbent
Candidate for U.S. Representative, Congressional District 45
Derek Tran is the Democratic U.S. Representative for California's 45th District. He is the incumbent. The district covers parts of Orange and Los Angeles counties. He was elected in November 2024. He narrowly beat Republican incumbent Michelle Steel. He took office in January 2025. He now seeks re-election. That vote is in November 2026. Before Congress, Tran was an attorney. He worked on workers'-rights and consumer-rights cases. He also co-owned a small pharmacy. His wife, Michelle, ran it with him. He served eight years in the U.S. Army. He has served as a city traffic commissioner. He was a board member of the Consumer Attorneys of California. He holds a degree from Bentley University. He holds a law degree from Glendale University. In Congress, he sits on two panels. They are the House Small Business Committee and House Armed Services Committee. Home: Orange/Los Angeles County area, California, in the CA-45 district; he lives in Orange. Occupation: U.S. Representative, incumbent. He was once a workers'-rights attorney. He also co-owned a small pharmacy. Prior office: incumbent since January 2025. He was first elected in November 2024. He held no prior elected office, besides a city traffic post.
On the issues
- Economy & Jobs
Supports raising the minimum wage to a living-wage standard and backs worker protections against corporate exploitation.
Source → - Taxes & Cost of Living
Supports cutting taxes for middle-class families and small businesses.
Source → - Health & Health Care
Supports expanding access to affordable healthcare, opposes cuts to Medicaid, and backs defending Medicare and lowering prescription drug costs.
Source → - Immigration & Border
Opposes discrimination against immigrant communities and has a mixed record on enforcement bills, supporting one measure requiring detention of certain undocumented immigrants arrested for theft-related crimes (Laken Riley Act) while opposing a proof-of-citizenship voter registration bill (SAVE Act).
Source → - Reproductive & Social Issues
Describes himself as "100% pro-choice," supports abortion access and Planned Parenthood funding, and supports access to birth control.
Source → - Education & Schools
Supports increased investment in public schools, higher teacher wages, early childhood education, and vocational training.
Source → - Public Safety & Policing
Supports universal background checks and an assault weapons ban.
Source → - Criminal Justice & Courts
Supports cracking down on rising crime and imprisoning dangerous offenders while also investing in violence-prevention and rehabilitation programs.
Source → - Veterans' Affairs
Supports a firm stance against Chinese Communist Party influence, backs reducing U.S. reliance on Chinese supply chains, and prioritizes veterans' services given his own Army service and Armed Services Committee seat.
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Supports campaign finance reform and transparency, and opposes corporate/special-interest influence in donations.
Source → - Technology & Privacy
Supports clear federal regulation of emerging technology such as blockchain to foster growth while protecting consumers.
Source →
Profiles are compiled from the candidate’s own statements and public records. We never tell you how to vote.