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| Derek Tran is heading to Washington D.C. |
With a lead of about 600 votes that seems to be increasing as ballots are counted, Incumbent GOP Rep. Michelle Tran conceded the race Wednesday (Nov. 27).
“This victory is a testament to the spirit and resilience of our community. As the son of Vietnamese refugees, I understand firsthand the journey and sacrifices many families in our district have made for a better life.," said Tran in a press release.
"My parents came to this country to escape oppression and pursue the American Dream, and their story reflects the journey of so many here in Southern California."
The race was the most expensive House contest in the country, and Tran’s victory marks a historic moment in a region known for its strong Asian American, Vietnamese American, and Latino communities. District 45 includes portions of traditionally conservative Orange County and Los Angeles County.
Tran, a consumer rights attorney, small business owner, son of Vietnamese refugees, and father of three young children, attracted national attention as a first-time candidate running against the powerful GOP machine of backing Steel, whose husband is a high-ranking official in the California's Republican party.
Tran, who has never held political office, described the comments as insulting the entire Vietnamese community.
“My father lost his first wife and four children escaping Vietnam,” Tran responded on social media. “Michelle can’t steal our identity or experiences.”
"Throughout this campaign, I heard from voters who wanted representation that prioritizes our community’s unique challenges," Tran stated. "From the need for affordable healthcare and housing to the importance of an economy that includes everyone, people here are looking to the future with hope and determination. I look forward to representing that optimism and working tirelessly to ensure that our communities’ voices are heard in Washington."
The race was the most expensive House contest in the country, and Tran’s victory marks a historic moment in a region known for its strong Asian American, Vietnamese American, and Latino communities. District 45 includes portions of traditionally conservative Orange County and Los Angeles County.
Tran, a consumer rights attorney, small business owner, son of Vietnamese refugees, and father of three young children, attracted national attention as a first-time candidate running against the powerful GOP machine of backing Steel, whose husband is a high-ranking official in the California's Republican party.
Orange County, which at one time was the home of California's Ku Klux Klan, still has a strong conservative element and has been a reliable bastion for the Republicans in a Democratic-dominated state. In recent years, the region has had an influx of Asian Americans so that today, they mamke up about 37% of the 45th district's population. Vietnamese Americans make up the largest community of the diverse Asian American population.
The district includes all or part of the Cities of Garden Grove, Westminster, Cerritos, Buena Park, Placentia, Hawaiian Gardens, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Artesia, Los Alamitos, La Palma, Brea, Lakewood, and Fullerton, as well as the unincorporated community of Rossmoor.
Steel tried to woo the traditionally conservative-leaning Vietnamese voters by trying to tie Tran to the communist party, a strategy that worked in 2022 when Steel's challenger was Taiwanese American Jay Chen.
At one point during the campaign, Steel claimed claimed, “My opponent might have a Vietnamese name, but I understand the Vietnamese community,”
Tran, who has never held political office, described the comments as insulting the entire Vietnamese community.
“My father lost his first wife and four children escaping Vietnam,” Tran responded on social media. “Michelle can’t steal our identity or experiences.”
"Throughout this campaign, I heard from voters who wanted representation that prioritizes our community’s unique challenges," Tran stated. "From the need for affordable healthcare and housing to the importance of an economy that includes everyone, people here are looking to the future with hope and determination. I look forward to representing that optimism and working tirelessly to ensure that our communities’ voices are heard in Washington."
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.
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