Derek Tran Announces Campaign For California’s 45th Congressional District

Oct

2023

PRESS RELEASE

Derek Tran Announces Campaign For California’s 45th Congressional District

Garden Grove, CA – Today, Army veteran, consumer rights attorney, city commissioner, and small business owner Derek Tran announced his campaign for California’s 45th District against MAGA incumbent Michelle Steel. Steel’s corruption, support for banning abortion even in cases of rape and incest, and votes against lowering the cost of prescription drugs, gun safety, and protecting California’s air quality, and coast from offshore drilling, have made her extremely vulnerable.

"My parents were Vietnamese refugees who worked hard and sacrificed so that I could realize the American Dream,” said Derek Tran. “I joined the Army to give back to the country that has given me so much, and every day as a consumer rights attorney, I fight for workers across the 45th District — holding bad actors accountable and ensuring that individuals, not special interests, get the justice they deserve. As a proud small business owner of a neighborhood pharmacy, I see the influence of big pharmaceutical companies and the impact their price gouging has on seniors and families in our community. I’m running for Congress because Michelle Steel has time and time again sided with her special interests donors instead of the voters of the 45th District. I’m ready to put people ahead of politics, protect our democracy, and ensure everyone, no matter what neighborhood they come from, has the opportunity to succeed without fear of their freedoms being taken away."

In his announcement, Tran highlighted his campaign team and their record of winning and flipping seats in Orange County and across California from Red to Blue. It includes:

Left Hook - Media and Digital
Tulchin Research - Polling
Bergmann Zwerdling Direct - Direct Mail
Momentum Campaigns - Online Fundraising

“The 45th District is a must win seat for Democrats to take back the house, and Derek Tran is the only candidate who can flip it,” said Ajay Mohan, Political Director for the campaign, and former Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Orange County. “With the largest Vietnamese population in the country, Derek’s personal story, military service, small business experience, and ability to communicate directly will be incredibly effective in reaching voters.”

Tran is the son of refugees who fled the Communist regime in Vietnam, arriving in Southern California as members of the Vietnamese Boat People, named after the thousands of small watercraft, who sought freedom, opportunity, and safety in America after the Vietnam War. Through hard work and sacrifice, Derek’s parents opened a corner grocery where he worked every day after public school.

Enlisting in the Army at the age of 18, Derek wanted to give back to the country that had given his family so much, and 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 up his small business in Orange County and fight for immigrants, workers, survivors of sexual harassment, and consumers.

Derek is married to his amazing wife Michelle, a pharmacist who grew up in Garden Grove. Together they run a brick and mortar pharmacy in Orange County. Derek and Michelle have 3 children who attend Orange County public schools. Derek sits on the board of Consumers of Attorneys of California and mentors at-risk youth at Sunburst Academy, which is located at Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos where Derek served.

###

California’s 45th is a Congressional District representing portions of Orange and Los Angeles Counties in Southern California. A majority-minority district, the District has the second largest AAPI population (36.97%) of any Congressional District, and the largest Vietnamese community in the country. President Biden won the current district lines by +6 points and it has a +6 point Democratic registration advantage. It 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. The DCCC has listed it as a “District In Play.”

Use of Derek Tran's military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Dept. of Defense or U.S. Army.