Tran faces Vo in redrawn California district rated likely Democratic

Rep. Derek Tran faces challenger Chuong Vo in California’s redrawn 45th Congressional District, where the Cook Political Report rates the seat as likely to remain Democratic, according to NBC Los Angeles. The report describes the candidates’ electoral prospects but provides no general-election result.

The district covers parts of Orange and Los Angeles counties, including Westminster’s Little Saigon. Both candidates are children of Vietnamese refugees, and Asian Americans are the district’s largest ethnic demographic, NBC Los Angeles reported.

Tran won the seat in 2024 by defeating then-incumbent Michelle Steel by 653 votes, according to NBC Los Angeles. He became the first Vietnamese American congressman to represent the area.

Vo is a retired police officer and former Cerritos mayor. Tran received more than 53% of the vote in the June primary, while Vo and several other candidates divided the Republican vote, the outlet reported.

Redistricting authorized by Proposition 50 added more territory in Los Angeles County, including parts of Lakewood, as well as northern Orange County. Dustin Gardiner, senior politics reporter at the San Francisco Standard, said in the NBC Los Angeles report that the revised district is more Democratic than before.

Voting data cited by NBC Los Angeles put the district’s electorate at 750,000, with Asian Americans accounting for 40% and Latinos for up to 30%. Tran said voters would consider the candidates’ experience rather than their shared Vietnamese American background alone.

The Cook Political Report’s assessment points to a Democratic advantage in the redrawn district, not a confirmed victory. NBC Los Angeles did not report whether Tran had won reelection.