Congressman Derek Tran was first elected in 2024, defeating incumbent Rep. Michelle Steel (R) in one of the closest and costliest elections in the country. The election was ultimately decided by 653 votes, and Rep. Tran will face another close election in 2026. His race will be one of the deciding seats in the fight for control of the House of Representatives.
Rep. Tran’s parents fled communist Vietnam in the late 1970s, and the Congressman was born and raised in Los Angeles County. When he turned 18, Congressman Tran enlisted in the United States Army Reserve to give back to the country that had provided his family with a new opportunity. He served for eight years and completed his assignment at the Joint Forces Training Base at Los Alamitos. He holds degrees from Bentley University and Glendale University College of Law.
Congressman Tran fought on behalf of consumers, workers, immigrants and survivors of sexual assault as an attorney and served on the board of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles and California. Congressman Tran’s civic experience includes his time working on public safety policy for the Mayor of Los Angeles and as a traffic commissioner for the City of Orange. Congressman Tran is also a small business owner, co-owning an independent pharmacy with his wife Michelle.
Congressman Tran is a member of the House Armed Services Committee who supported amendments related to alternatives on plutonium pit production and diverting SLCM-N funds in favor of tuition assistance during this year’s defense authorization markup.
