--- title: "Tran vs. Vo: 2026 California’s 45th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-ca-45" updated: "2026-10-01" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 California’s 45th District race: Derek Tran (D) vs. Chuong Vo (R) Rating: Tilt D · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: October 1, 2026 In California's 45th Congressional District, Democratic incumbent Derek Tran faces Republican challenger Chuong Vo, a retired law enforcement officer and former Cerritos mayor. The election hinges on public safety, cost-of-living concerns, border security, foreign policy regarding Asian communist regimes, and key legislative voting records. ## Candidates - **Derek Tran** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://www.derektranforcongress.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Derek_Tran) - **Chuong Vo** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://www.vo4congress.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Chuong_Vo) ## Issues ### Public Safety and Fentanyl Salience: high Both candidates support increasing police presence, but Vo focuses heavily on strict criminal penalties and anti-theft task forces, whereas Tran pairs law enforcement with community violence prevention and rehabilitation programs. **Derek Tran:** Supports policing and crime prevention Tran supports putting more police officers on the street to target crime while funding violence prevention programs. He emphasizes holding dangerous criminals accountable while investing in rehabilitation to address root causes of crime. - Support placing more police officers on streets to crack down on crime. - Invest in community violence prevention and rehabilitation programs. > “He’s worked to put more police on the streets to crack down on rising crime and put dangerous criminals in prison. And Derek has fought for more investments in violence prevention and rehabilitation programs to address the root causes of crime.” > — Derek Tran, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Derek_Tran) **Chuong Vo:** Supports law enforcement and fentanyl penalties Vo draws on his 28-year career in law enforcement to emphasize backing police with equipment, de-escalation training, and body cameras. He calls for federal task forces against retail theft and stricter criminal penalties for fentanyl traffickers. - Increase penalties for fentanyl trafficking and target Chinese precursor suppliers and Mexican cartels. - Form federal task forces and expand data-sharing against organized retail theft. - Fully fund officer equipment, body-worn cameras, and de-escalation training. > “Government’s first job is keeping families safe. I’ll always back law enforcement and work to strengthen trust with standards that work for both local and federal authorities” > — Chuong Vo, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Chuong_Vo) ### Economy and Inflation Salience: high Vo advocates curbing inflation through federal budget audits and spending cuts, while Tran supports raising minimum wages, tax relief for workers, and federal investments in manufacturing and housing. **Derek Tran:** Supports worker protections and middle-class tax relief Tran focuses on raising wages for workers, supporting middle-class and small business tax relief, and expanding clean energy manufacturing. He voted against major House Republican budget reconciliation and appropriations measures in the 119th Congress. - Advocate for a living minimum wage, worker protections, and housing affordability. - Cut taxes for middle-class families and small businesses while promoting advanced domestic manufacturing. - Voted Nay on H.R.1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act reconciliation) and Nay on H.Con.Res.14 budget resolution. - Introduced legislation to expand tax savings for service workers and protect renters. > “Derek is fighting to make the minimum wage a living wage so families can keep up with rising costs, advocate for safer working conditions, and ensure that all workers can afford housing and look forward to a secure retirement.” > — Derek Tran, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Derek_Tran) **Chuong Vo:** Supports cutting wasteful federal spending Vo pledges to fight inflation by auditing federal agencies to cut government waste, fraud, and duplication. He opposes tax increases and proposes streamlining infrastructure permits to bring down family expenses. - Audit federal agencies to eliminate waste, fraud, and duplicate programs. - Streamline permitting and infrastructure processes to lower consumer costs. - Protect earned benefits for seniors while avoiding tax increases. > “I’ll vote to cut wasteful spending that fuels inflation, protect Social Security and Medicare for today’s seniors, and apply a mayor’s discipline to every dollar: targeting fraud and duplication rather than just ask taxpayers to pay more.” > — Chuong Vo, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Chuong_Vo) ### Immigration and Border Security Salience: medium Vo emphasizes border technology infrastructure and legal visa modernization, whereas Tran's position is defined by targeted roll-call votes on specific enforcement statutes. **Derek Tran:** Supports targeted border enforcement votes Tran's record reflects key congressional votes supporting detention requirements for undocumented individuals arrested for theft crimes while opposing automatic deportation for impaired driving convictions. - Voted Yea on S.5 (Laken Riley Act) requiring DHS detention of undocumented individuals arrested for burglary, theft, or shoplifting. - Voted Nay on H.R.875 regarding making driving while impaired mandatory grounds for deportation or inadmissibility. **Chuong Vo:** Supports border infrastructure and visa modernization Vo calls for finishing border technology and infrastructure while providing enforcement agents with proper tools. He advocates expediting asylum decisions and modernizing legal immigration so families and employers face orderly processes. - Complete border technology and security infrastructure. - Speed up asylum processing and visa decisions. - Modernize legal immigration channels for employers and families. > “I’ll support secure borders and faster asylum decisions, paired with better training and resources for agents so enforcement is effective, safe, and professional.” > — Chuong Vo, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Chuong_Vo) ### Foreign Policy and Asian Communist Influence Salience: medium Both candidates strongly oppose communist regimes, but Vo explicitly proposes state and municipal property bans against the Vietnamese Communist Party alongside aid to Taiwan and Israel, while Tran focuses on confronting Chinese supply chains and economic competition. **Derek Tran:** Opposes Chinese Communist rule and expansionism Tran highlights his family's refugee history fleeing communist Vietnam to advocate firm opposition to Chinese Communist Party rule. He champions policies that bolster U.S. economic competitiveness, counter Chinese expansionism, and reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains. - Counter Chinese Communist Party aggression and support international democratic values. - Reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains and counter unfair trade practices. - Bolster American manufacturing competitiveness. > “Derek has championed initiatives that bolster economic competitiveness, reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains, and safeguard against unfair trade practices.” > — Derek Tran, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Derek_Tran) **Chuong Vo:** Supports Taiwan, Israel, and local anti-communist bans Vo supports robust military aid for Taiwan and Israel while avoiding open-ended U.S. troop deployments abroad. He specifically advocates banning the Vietnamese Communist Party and its affiliates from leasing or acquiring public municipal property in California cities like Westminster and Garden Grove. - Strengthen Taiwan's defense capabilities and economic ties against CCP pressure. - Support Israel and provide aid to foreign allies without deploying U.S. ground troops. - Bar the Vietnamese Communist Party and affiliates from acquiring or renting public property in California. > “I support protecting Westminster and Garden Grove’s public assets from influence by the Vietnamese Communist government and its affiliates and I support banning them from acquiring, leasing, or renting city property in those cities or anywhere in California.” > — Chuong Vo, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Chuong_Vo) ### Healthcare and Senior Benefits Salience: medium Tran focuses on lowering drug prices and opposing Medicaid cuts, while Vo focuses on preserving Social Security and Medicare solvency by curbing fraud and waste. **Derek Tran:** Supports lower drug costs and defends Medicare As a pharmacy owner, Tran promises to take on pharmaceutical and insurance companies to lower prescription costs. He pledges to protect Medicare and Medicaid against Republican spending cuts. - Reins in high prescription drug prices and healthcare costs. - Defend Medicare and Medicaid against proposed federal cuts. > “Derek will continue to defend Medicare so everyone has access to quality, affordable health care.” > — Derek Tran, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Derek_Tran) **Chuong Vo:** Protects Social Security and Medicare solvency Vo vows to safeguard Social Security and Medicare benefits for current seniors by targeting waste, fraud, and duplication across government programs. - Protect earned benefits for Social Security and Medicare recipients. - Curb program fraud and mismanagement to ensure long-term solvency. > “protect earned benefits for seniors while safeguarding long-term solvency by cracking down on fraud and abuse.” > — Chuong Vo, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Chuong_Vo) ### Democracy, Government Ethics, and Voting Rights Salience: medium Vo prioritizes government ethics reform by banning congressional stock trading, whereas Tran focuses on expanding federal voting rights protections and reforming campaign finance. **Derek Tran:** Supports voting rights and campaign finance reform Tran supports reform measures to limit lobbyist influence, end corporate dominance in elections, and protect voting rights. He voted against the Republican-led SAVE Act in the House. - Strengthen voting rights and campaign finance transparency. - Voted Nay on H.R.22 (SAVE Act documentary proof of citizenship voting requirement). - Voted Nay on H.R.1526 (NORRA of 2025 limiting federal injunction authority). - Voted Yea on H.R.4405 (Epstein Files Transparency Act). > “Derek will work to strengthen voting rights for every American and defend our free and fair elections from Trump and MAGA Republicans who want to overturn our democracy.” > — Derek Tran, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Derek_Tran) **Chuong Vo:** Supports congressional stock trading ban Vo advocates for clean government by banning members of Congress from trading insider stocks, requiring transparent budgets, and enacting stricter lobbying ethics rules. - Ban stock trading by members of Congress. - Enforce strict budget transparency and penalties for lobbying ethics violations. > “I’ll fight to end congressional insider stock trading. I’ll demand transparent budgets, tough audits, and stronger ethics rules, because taxpayer dollars should go to results, not insiders.” > — Chuong Vo, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Chuong_Vo) ### Education Salience: medium Vo champions parental rights and keeping politics out of classrooms, while Tran focuses on increasing teacher wages and expanding federal investments in public education. **Derek Tran:** Supports public school funding and teacher pay Tran advocates raising public school teacher pay, expanding early childhood education, and investing in job training. He voted against House legislation restricting transgender athletes from participating in female school sports. - Raise wages for public school teachers and fund local public schools. - Invest in early childhood education and CTE job training. - Voted Nay on H.R.28 (Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025). > “Derek has fought to ensure every child has a quality education by working to raise wages for teachers, investing in community public schools, supporting programs like early childhood education that give students more opportunities to succeed, and providing more vocational education and job training.” > — Derek Tran, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Derek_Tran) **Chuong Vo:** Supports parental rights and STEM education Vo supports guaranteeing parents a voice in education, raising performance standards in core subjects, and expanding STEM and career pathways while keeping political topics out of classrooms. - Expand CTE and STEM pathways in public schools. - Increase federal funding for evidence-based reading instruction and tutoring. - Ensure parental involvement and eliminate political influence from classrooms. > “Parents should be partners in education. Let’s raise reading, math, and science performance, expand CTE and STEM pathways, and keep classrooms focused on learning, not politics.” > — Chuong Vo, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Chuong_Vo) ### Abortion Salience: medium Tran takes an explicit pro-choice stance advocating for Planned Parenthood funding, while Vo has no documented position in the provided sources. **Derek Tran:** Supports federal abortion rights and funding Tran strongly supports pro-choice policies, pledging to protect access to abortion, birth control, and cancer screenings, while safeguarding federal funding for Planned Parenthood. - Protect federal funding for Planned Parenthood and reproductive health services. - Defend legal access to abortion and birth control nationwide. > “As the father of a young daughter, Derek is 100% pro-choice and has stood strong to protect funding for Planned Parenthood and access to critical women’s health services like birth control and cancer screenings.” > — Derek Tran, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Derek_Tran) **Chuong Vo:** No documented position in our sources ### Homelessness Salience: medium Vo outlines a concrete homelessness platform centered on grant audits, addiction beds, and no-camping rules, whereas Tran presents no documented position in the sources. **Derek Tran:** No documented position in our sources **Chuong Vo:** Supports grant audits and no-camping enforcement Vo proposes auditing federal homelessness grants, stripping funds from underperforming programs, and tying funding to measurable mental health and addiction recovery beds. He also supports enforcing no-camping bans near schools and parks. - Audit federal grants and defund ineffective homelessness programs. - Tie funding directly to treatment, shelter, and addiction beds. - Enforce no-camping rules near schools and public parks. > “Funding must come with accountability and outcomes: treatment, shelter, and recovery that move people off the streets, while enforcing no-camping rules near schools and parks.” > — Chuong Vo, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Chuong_Vo) ### Guns Salience: low Tran explicitly supports bans on assault weapons and universal background checks, while Vo has no documented position in the provided sources. **Derek Tran:** Supports universal background checks and assault weapon ban Tran supports stricter federal gun safety laws, including universal background checks and banning assault weapons to curb gun violence. - Enact universal background checks for firearm purchases. - Pass a federal ban on assault weapons. > “He has taken on the NRA by fighting for common-sense gun safety laws like universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons.” > — Derek Tran, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Derek_Tran) **Chuong Vo:** No documented position in our sources ### Blockchain and Technology Salience: low Tran actively supports legislative and regulatory frameworks for blockchain and stablecoin technologies, whereas Vo has no documented position in the provided sources. **Derek Tran:** Supports regulatory frameworks for crypto and stablecoins Tran advocates for U.S. leadership in emerging technologies like blockchain, calling for clear regulation to protect consumers and national security. He voted for the GENIUS Act regulating payment stablecoins. - Establish regulatory structures to foster growth and consumer protection in blockchain. - Voted Yea on S.1582 (GENIUS Act establishing payment stablecoin framework). > “Establishing clear regulations for this technology will foster growth, safeguard consumers, and enhance national security.” > — Derek Tran, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Derek_Tran) **Chuong Vo:** No documented position in our sources ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/ca-45-house-election-winner) — CA-45 House Election Winner: Democrats 94.0%, Republicans 6.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/HOUSECA45-26) — CA-45 House winner?: Derek Tran 93.0%, Chuong Vo 6.1% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-ca-45)