U.S. House · California's 45th District

Southern Los Angeles and northern Orange counties, including Little Saigon-area cities such as Garden Grove and Westminster. Redrawn under Proposition 50 (approved November 2025), the district shifted several more Democratic areas of Los Angeles County into the seat.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

✓ Fact-checked 2026-09-25: 14 claims re-checked against their sources

A second, independent research pass re-opened every cited source for this race and corrected or removed anything the source didn’t support.

On the ballot · 2 candidates

Where they stand — side by side

Only positions documented in a cited source are shown. Where an officeholder’s recorded votes speak to an issue, the votes set the position (marked “votes”). A dash means we found no clear public position — not that the candidate has none.

ISSUEDerek Tran
D
Chuong Vo
R
Protect legal access to abortionSupports[2]—
Expand immigration enforcement and deportationsMixed[5][6][7][8]votesMixed[4]
Raise taxes on high earners or corporationsSupports[6][7][8]votes—
Expand public health coverageSupports[6][7][8][9]votes—
Faster transition away from fossil fuelsSupports[6][7][8]votes—
Increase police funding and staffing—Supports[4]
Broad tariffs on imported goodsOpposes[10]votes—

The candidates, in full

Derek Tran

DINCUMBENTU.S. Representative for California's 45th District (since 2025)

Won the June 2, 2026 top-two primary with 52.5% of the vote.

Derek Tran is the Democratic incumbent seeking re-election in the 45th District, first elected in 2024. He is a U.S. Army veteran, consumer-rights attorney and small-business (pharmacy) owner.[1]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Key votes in Congress

  • YesWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · H. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · 2026-06-03 roll call ↗The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans.
  • YesResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · H.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · 2026-02-11 roll call ↗The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy.
  • NoConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government funding · H.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · 2026-02-03 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
  • YesBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · H.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · 2026-01-08 roll call ↗The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans.
  • YesWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela · H. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region.
  • YesNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · 2025-12-10 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year.
  • YesEpstein Files Transparency Act · H.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · 2025-11-18 roll call ↗The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support.
  • NoContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · 2025-11-12 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively.
  • YesCLARITY Act — digital asset market structure · H.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries.
  • YesGENIUS Act — stablecoin regulation · S. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · 2025-07-03 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025.
  • NoRescissions Act of 2025 · H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · 2025-06-12 roll call ↗The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · 2025-05-22 roll call ↗H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients.
  • NoSAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · H.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · 2025-04-10 roll call ↗The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls.
  • NoFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 · H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · 2025-03-11 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
  • YesLaken Riley Act — final passage · S. 5 · Passed 263–156 · 2025-01-22 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.

On the record — official actions

  • actionServes on House committees for the 2025-2026 term (assignments listed on his Ballotpedia profile).[1]

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsProtect legal access to abortion

    Describes himself as 100% pro-choice and says he has worked to protect funding for Planned Parenthood and access to birth control and cancer screenings.[2]

  • SupportsExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted yes on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08).[6][7][8][9]

    What they say: Says he has worked to rein in the cost of health care and prescription drugs and opposed Republican efforts to cut Medicaid, and will continue defending Medicare.[2]

  • MixedExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations.[5][6][7][8]

  • SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[6][7][8]

  • SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.[6][7][8]

  • OpposesBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11).[10]

In their words — priorities

  • Protecting abortion rights and access to Planned Parenthood and other women's health services.[2]
  • Defending Medicare and Medicaid, and lowering the cost of health care and prescription drugs.[2]
  • Investing in public schools, early childhood education and vocational/job training.[2]

Background

  • Born in Los Angeles County, California; earned a bachelor's degree from Bentley University and a law degree from Glendale University.[1]
  • Served eight years in the U.S. Army.[1]
  • Worked as a consumer-rights attorney and co-owns a local pharmacy with his wife.[1][2]

Campaign money

Raised $5.0M · spent $2.1M · $3.3M cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Chuong Vo

RCerritos City Council member (2020-2025)

Advanced from the June 2, 2026 top-two primary as the leading Republican candidate.

Chuong Vo is the Republican candidate in the 45th District. He is a retired Torrance Police Department officer and former Cerritos City Council member.[3]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsIncrease police funding and staffing

    Says he will always back law enforcement and push to fully fund training and equipment so officers and federal agents can do their jobs safely.[4]

  • MixedExpand immigration enforcement and deportations

    Says he supports secure borders and faster, better-resourced asylum and enforcement processing, while also calling for modernizing legal immigration so families and employers can follow an orderly process.[4]

In their words — priorities

  • Public safety, including support for law enforcement and targeting organized retail theft and fentanyl trafficking.[4]
  • Lowering the cost of living by cutting wasteful federal spending while protecting Social Security and Medicare.[4]

Background

  • Worked as a law-enforcement officer with the Torrance Police Department from 1999 to 2025.[3]
  • Served on the executive board of the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority between 2021 and 2025.[3]
  • Served on the Cerritos City Council from 2020 to 2025.[1]

Campaign money

Raised $496K · spent $421K · $75K cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Research notes & limits

Basic-tier research from Ballotpedia and campaign-site material; federal key votes and FEC totals for the incumbent are added separately.

Sources · 10

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.Derek Tran · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 2.Derek Tran campaign website, quoted on Ballotpedia · Derek Tran for Congress (via Ballotpedia) Candidate's own words
  3. 3.Chuong Vo · Ballotpedia Reference
  4. 4.Chuong Vo campaign website, quoted on Ballotpedia · Chuong Vo for Congress (via Ballotpedia) Candidate's own words
  5. 5.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  6. 6.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  7. 7.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  8. 8.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  9. 9.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  10. 10.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record