Derek Tran is an Army Veteran, workers ’ rights advocate, small business owner, and Representative for California’s 45th Congressional District.

Derek is the son of refugees. His parents fled the Communist regime in Vietnam so that their children could realize the American Dream in Southern California. Through hard work and sacrifice, Derek’s family opened a corner market where Derek worked every day after school. 

At 18, Derek enlisted in the Army to give back to the country that had given him and his family so much. In the military, it didn’t matter if you were a Democrat or a Republican - you worked together to get the job done, and that’s the commonsense, bipartisan approach Derek has brought to Congress.

After his time in the military, Derek went to law school to uphold the liberties, individual rights, and rule of law that his parents immigrated to America for. Turning down high-paying jobs in corporate law, Derek chose to open his small business in Orange County and fight for immigrants, workers, survivors of sexual harassment, and consumers.

At a time when corporations are raking in record profits and customers are paying more for basic goods and services, Derek holds bad actors accountable, ensuring that individuals, not special interests, get the justice they deserve. 

Derek has proven himself to be a strong advocate for the 45th district, introducing legislation that would protect veterans’ jobs and require Veterans impacted by President Trump’s massive federal layoffs to be reinstated. Derek is standing up to Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans' efforts to cut Medicaid and Medicare to pay for tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. 

Derek is married to his amazing wife Michelle, a pharmacist who grew up in Garden Grove. Together, they run a brick-and-mortar pharmacy right here in Orange County. During the pandemic, they helped local businesses and restaurants keep their doors open and their employees safe through vaccinations and COVID-19 testing. Thanks to Michelle and Derek, countless community members were able to work, see family, and stay healthy.

Every day, Derek and Michelle see firsthand the challenges Orange County families face with skyrocketing drug prices and the difficult decisions some have to make when paying for insulin or groceries. In Congress, Derek has fought to reduce the costs of prescription drugs, protect a woman’s right to choose, and expand coverage, because healthcare is a right, not a privilege.

Derek and Michelle are proud parents of three. Their children attend public schools, and every day Derek works to instill the values of hard work, patriotism, and service that his parents taught him.

Derek is a former board member of Consumer Attorneys of California and mentors at-risk youth at Sunburst Academy, which is located at Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos, where Derek served.