Democrat Derek Tran flipped California’s 45th Congressional District in 2024, winning by only 653 votes. Not even 15 months later, Tran is back on the campaign trail in Buena Park where he once again has the support of the Western States Carpenters Union in Orange County.

Although the 45th was re-districted, it changed the least. The National Republican Congressional Committee tells Eyewitness News they’re targeting this seat and believe they can flip it back in November.

As is the case across the country, affordability is one of the top issues.

“My constituents has already been really stressed with prices at the grocery store and the gas pump. Now that, you know, that extra 40, 50 cents a gallon is driving them with more anxiety, with more stress, it’s not fair for them. It’s not right – all because we’re entering into a war that we should have never been part of,” said Tran.

Tran is up against a crowded field including some republicans who are well known in certain parts of the district. The other candidates include Vietnam War veteran Tom Vo, Westminster Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen, Westminster City Councilmember Amy Phan West, and former Cerritos Mayor and retired police officer Chuong Vo.

“We don’t have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem, and we need to address that, and that’s something I will do. I won’t just vote along party lines, but I will definitely look at what we need to do to make sure that we reflect what our constituents want from us,” said Vo, who is running to unseat Derek Tran.

“I’m a conservative republican and I am in line with President Trump and I am supportive of President Trump, 100% of his policies, and at the same time, I am with the America first agenda,” said Chi Charlie Nguyen, the mayor of Westminster who is also running to unseat Tran.

Those running against Tran tell Eyewitness News they’re better suited to serve the large Vietnamese-American community in the district, which will be key to who wins this race.

Tran, a veteran who is the first Vietnamese American to represent Westminster’s Little Saigon, serves on the House Armed Services Committee and House Small Business Committee.

“I think cultural politics does play out, especially in communities and districts like mine. We’re a majority minority district, you know, about 20 something percent Vietnamese Americans and 20 something percent Hispanic. You can’t win without winning over these folks that are leaders in the Vietnamese community, leaders in the Hispanic community, and talking about the issues that are important to them,” said Tran.

If a candidate doesn’t receive more than 50% of the vote in the June 2 primary, the top two finishers – regardless of party – will move on to the November runoff.


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