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Federal · Statewide General Election

United States Representative, District 45

Draft candidate list — early preview until the state’s official list publishes on August 27, 2026.

This is one contest. Enter your address to see every race on your November ballot, and keep track of your picks.

On the ballot

This person holds your district's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives (2-year term).

Representative Derek Tran took 53.8% of the June 2 vote and Republican Chuong V. Vo took 15.3% to claim the second slot. The district covers part of central Orange County.

The winner holds one of 435 seats in the U.S. House for a two-year term. A member introduces bills, sits on committees that shape federal legislation, votes on the federal budget and on war powers, and handles casework between constituents and federal agencies. A first-term member is at the bottom of the seniority ladder that governs committee assignments.

The incumbent raised nearly $5 million in his first term — among the largest congressional campaigns on this ballot — with 72% of it from named individuals. His challenger raised about a tenth as much, almost entirely from individuals too. Weigh a first federal term against a modestly funded challenge.

Derek Tran

Democrat, the sitting Representative for this district since 2025, in his first term. He has sponsored 14 bills in the 119th Congress, none of which have become law so far. He raised $4,981,277, of which $3,582,678 came from individuals.

Strengths

A very large campaign for a first-term member, 72% of it from named individuals rather than committees.

Trade-offs

None of his 14 sponsored bills have become law.

Keep in mind

One term is a short federal record to judge, and this seat is treated as competitive by both parties.

Chuong V. Vo

Republican, who advanced with 15.3% of the June vote. He raised $495,763, of which $468,763 came from individuals and $17,000 from PACs and committees. He has not served in the California Legislature or U.S. Congress.

Strengths

Nearly half a million dollars raised as a first-time candidate, 95% of it from named individuals.

Trade-offs

He finished 38 points behind, and has no record in office to be judged on.

Keep in mind

Coverage surfaced little detail about his platform. That gap is what was available to us on 2026-08-10, not a comment on his candidacy.

Record in office

Derek Tran (Democratic) has served in the U.S. House since 2025 and has sponsored 14 bills in the 119th Congress; none of their bills have become law so far. Chuong V. Vo has not served in the California Legislature or U.S. Congress; these records cover only those offices. Per Congress.gov and the public-domain congress-legislators roster, retrieved 2026-08-10.

Record details

Tran — Committees: Armed Services; Small Business Committee assignments and the most recently signed-into-law bills each record-holder lead-authored, from the official legislative record.

Financial info

Chuong V. Vo

$495,763raised
  • Individuals$468,76397%
  • PACs & committees$17,0003%

Derek Tran

$4,981,277raised
  • Individuals$3,582,67876%
  • PACs & committees$1,103,26024%
  • Party$4,179<1%

Total raised is all receipts for the 2026 cycle; the breakdown lists direct contributions, so the pieces can sum below the total. Figures are FEC filings through June 30, 2026, per the FEC bulk campaign-finance summaries, retrieved 2026-08-22.

June 2 primary — how they advanced

Derek Tran (Democratic)53.8% · 86,184 votes
Chuong V. Vo (Republican)15.3% · 24,591 votes
Chi "Charlie" Nguyen (Republican)11.8% · 18,846 votes
Tom Vo (Republican)8.5% · 13,643 votes
Mark Leonard (Republican)5.9% · 9,516 votes
Amy Phan West (Republican)4.7% · 7,526 votes
Source review: Very strong (95/100) · 5 cited sources

Official records anchor this contest, with multiple sources checked.

Last updated August 11, 2026.