LAST UPDATED: October 17, 2024

Overview

CANDIDATE CPP:
LA: $1600

Michelle Steel is too extreme for Orange County families.

SUMMARY

Starting the second week before the November 5th general election, voters in the Los Angeles media market, need to see ads running concurrently on broadcast, cable, streaming and digital district-wide as well as read mail about: 

  • For current and future positive communications on Derek Tran, the emphasis should be on protecting women, women’s health and safety, and abortion rights. Planned Parenthood is a very effective validator for this issue. While popular, firefighters do not need to be in long-form creative content.

  • MAGA Michelle Steel is so extreme she twice tried to ban abortion nationwide without exceptions for rape, incest, or to save a woman’s life. Now, MAGA Michelle is doubling down on her attacks against women by supporting the extreme Project 2025 agenda, which would eliminate access to birth control while stripping health care from millions of Californians. Orange County families deserve better than MAGA Michelle Steel’s dangerous extremism.

  • MAGA Michelle Steel has been called out by the LA Times for her dishonesty, and now she is lying about Derek Tran. Derek Tran has stood up for women. He has advocated for victims of harassment and abuse and will protect women’s reproductive rights. MAGA Michelle Steel has led the effort to ban abortion nationwide with no exceptions for rape, incest or to save the life of the woman. That’s why Planned Parenthood and law enforcement trust Derek Tran to keep women and families safe.

All AAPI voters – especially AAPI voters under the age of 45 – need to see negative ads on streaming and digital platforms and read mail about Steel’s corruption, especially and as soon as possible about her close ties to disgraced Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do

  • Steel’s close political ally Andrew Do is under investigation by the FBI for corruption after he allegedly diverted millions of dollars of COVID funds meant to feed the elderly for his personal benefit. Both Andrew Do and Michelle Steel have been accused of using taxpayer money to help their campaigns.

Vietnamese voters under the age of 45 – especially English-speaking Vietnamese women  – should see some positive ads on streaming and digital platforms and read mail that:

  • The son of Vietnamese refugees who fled Communism, Derek grew up working to help his parents run the family-owned corner market. At 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was activated after 9/11. Derek earned his law degree and opened his own firm in Orange County where he takes on greedy corporations on behalf of survivors of sexual harassment and victims of workplace discrimination. Derek stepped up to serve as a City Commissioner and a mentor to underprivileged youth. Together with his wife, Michelle, they are proud parents of three.

  • Derek will defend a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions, and he’ll protect access to birth control, IVF, and other critical health services.

  • Derek and his wife run a local pharmacy, which helps provide affordable medications to people in the community. Derek will take on big insurance and pharmaceutical companies to lower the high cost of healthcare and prescription drugs, including capping the cost of lifesaving drugs like insulin, so everyone has access to quality, affordable care.

  • As a father of three young children and a youth mentor for kids in need, Derek will work to ensure every child gets a quality education by raising wages for teachers, supporting early childhood programs, and providing more vocational education and job training.

Democrats and voters registered without party preference in the Artesia, Cerritos, Cypress, and Buena Park region – particularly women, AAPI, Latino, and young voters and particularly voters who voted in 2020 and not in 2022 – need to hear Get Out The Vote messages and vote planning conversations on doors that emphasize returning their ballots early and see literature that:

  • Derek is the son of Vietnamese refugees who fled Communism. At 18, Derek enlisted in the U.S. Army and was activated after 9/11.

  • Derek will defend a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions, and he’ll protect abortion rights and access to birth control.

  • MAGA Michelle Steel has been called out by the LA Times for her dishonesty, and now she is lying about Derek Tran. Derek Tran has stood up for women. He has advocated for victims of harassment and abuse and will protect women’s reproductive rights. MAGA Michelle Steel has led the effort to ban abortion nationwide with no exceptions for rape, incest or to save the life of the woman. That’s why Planned Parenthood and law enforcement trust Derek Tran to keep women and families safe.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

  • {Backup}

  • Voters need to hear Michelle Steel referred to as “MAGA Michelle” or “MAGA Michelle Steel”

  • Voters need to see that the Los Angeles Times accused Steel of “Dishonesty.”

  • https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-09-09/endorsement-gop-michelle-steel-needs-to-go-derek-tran-for-congress 

  • Voters would benefit from reading in mail, and seeing and hearing on digital, testimonials from reproductive rights organizations and former clients Derek Tran represented as an attorney, that Derek has always stood up for women and will do the same in Congress.

  • YouTube is a priority platform for digital communication and continued investment, especially for voters under the age of 45.

  • Voters registered without a party preference, voters who lean Democratic, and voters under the age of 45 across every demographic group, especially women, are a priority audience.

  • Vietnamese voters are hyper-concentrated in the following zip codes: 92655, 92683, 92703, 92708, 92840, 92841, 92843, 92844, 92868. It would be helpful to prioritize communication in these geographies.

  • For Latino voters under the age of 45 who are seeing ads on digital and streaming platforms, it is most important for these ads to be in English. Spanish language communication is a helpful but a secondary priority for these voters. 

  • Vietnamese women under the age of 45 who speak English are a priority audience.

  • Until the November 5th general election, voters will see joint communication on digital, streaming, and satellite from the DCCC and the Tran campaign on the issue of abortion.

  • LA County is a priority region for turning out voters who are less likely to vote – especially Latino voters. 

  • Vietnamese voters and Chinese (Mandarin speakers) over the age of 45 should receive bilingual communication on doors and in literature. 

  • AAPI voters under the age of 45 should receive communication in English on doors and in literature.

  • Voters who need to be persuaded on doors in the Westminster, Fountain Valley, and Garden Grove region should be prioritized over voters who need to be persuaded on doors in the Fullerton, Brea, Placentia region.

  • Voters should hear from canvassers who speak their preferred language.

  • Democrats and voters registered without party preference under the age of 45 who live around any major colleges, including CSU Fullerton, Fullerton College, Cerritos College, and Cypress College need to have turnout conversations on the doors.

  • Voters should be encouraged to return their ballots as soon as possible. If a voter has not mailed their VBM ballot back by one week before Election Day (October 29), they should be encouraged to use an official drop box location or drop off at a vote center.

Hear what people are saying about Derek Tran

  • "Derek Tran stood by me when I needed help the most. His dedication and compassion made all the difference, and I'm proud to support him in his run for Congress because I know he will keep fighting for others just like he did for me." - Anita C.

  • "When I was facing pregnancy discrimination at work, Derek Tran fought for me when I felt powerless. He stood by my side and made sure my rights were protected, refusing to let my voice be ignored. Derek didn't just take on my case--he fought for all working mothers who deserve fair treatment. Derek's dedication gave me the strength to stand up for myself and helped me achieve the justice I deserved."- Ashley S.

  • "When I faced gender discrimination and sexual harassment at work, Derek Tran stood up for me and fought for justice. He wasn't afraid to take a stand for women's rights and made sure my voice was heard when others tried to silence me. Derek is a true defender of women, and I'm grateful for his unwavering support."- Soledad A.  

Photo of Endorser

"Derek Tran has always fought for women—whether in the courtroom or in his community. He’s been a fierce advocate for survivors of harassment and discrimination, and his commitment to reproductive health care and rights is unwavering. Unlike his opponent Michelle Steel, who has consistently attacked these rights, Derek has made it clear he will fight to protect access to abortion, birth control, and the essential health care that women deserve. Planned Parenthood Action Fund trusts Derek Tran in California’s 45th congressional district."

"Michelle Steel’s actions make it clear: she wants to turn back the clock on reproductive rights. Her votes against birth control access and her support for criminalizing abortion prove her loyalty lies with anti-abortion extremists, not with women. She can’t be trusted to protect our rights and freedoms."

Alexis McGill. President Planned Parenthood action fund

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"Derek Tran’s record speaks for itself: he has always fought for the rights and dignity of all people. From defending reproductive freedom to advocating for gender equality, Derek is a true champion for our cause. Michelle Steel can try to tear him down with lies, but Derek will ensure people have access to abortion, fertility treatments like IVF, and contraception free from government interference. We need leaders like Derek in Congress who will fight for our rights without hesitation."

"Michelle Steel’s actions make it clear: she wants to turn back the clock on people’s rights. Her votes against birth control access and her support for criminalizing abortion prove her loyalty lies with MAGA extremists, not with her constituents. Steel’s attacks against Tran are just another distraction from her plan to strip away our reproductive freedoms."

Reproductive Freedom for all, CEO Mini Timmaraju