California 45th District
Derek Tran (D) holds this seat and is running again. 2 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Derek Tran
Democrat · holds this seat today
FLiberty Score FOn the liberty side in 14 of 43 votes and bills.
Raised $5,988,192 since January 2025: 70% from people, 22% from PACs and other committees, 8% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Chuong Vo
Republican · retired police officer, former Cerritos mayor
ALiberty Score A100 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Vo has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Vo.
Raised $937,469 since January 2025: 95% from people, 4% from PACs and other committees, 1% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Chuong Vo. Chuong Vo: A, 100 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count. Derek Tran: F, 26 out of 100 from recorded votes.
Voting in California: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Chuong Vo, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Vo, so the grade above comes from this list: what Vo has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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His campaign site says he would oppose the Vietnamese Communist Party's attempts to gain influence in the United States.
“oppose the Vietnamese Communist Party’s attempts to gain influence in America”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Confronting a one-party communist regime and its influence efforts follows the tyranny principle.
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His campaign site says he supports Israel because it serves the national security interests of the United States.
“I support Israel because it is unequivocally in the national security interests of the United States.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Treating Israel as an ally is with liberty on free nations.
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His campaign site says America has a moral and strategic obligation to help Taiwan defend itself against Chinese Communist Party aggression.
“America has both a moral and strategic obligation to help ensure it can defend itself against aggression from the Chinese Communist Party.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing Taiwan against Beijing is with liberty on free nations.
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His campaign site says the United States does not need boots on the ground and endless wars.
“We do not need boots on the ground and endless wars that cost too many American lives and treasure.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Opposing endless wars with no policy named does not settle the free nations test either way.
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He told supporters he was glad of the 2025 federal tax law because he received money back.
“Thank God for the Big Beautiful Bill this year because I don’t know about you, but I got some money back for the first time ever”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Praising a law that cut taxes is the 'lower taxes' side of the free markets test.
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His campaign site says classrooms should stay focused on learning rather than politics.
“keep classrooms focused on learning, not politics”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
No race or gender policy is named, so the words do not settle the measure.
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His campaign site says he supports secure borders and faster asylum decisions, with enforcement by trained agents.
“I’ll support secure borders and faster asylum decisions, paired with better training and resources for agents so enforcement is effective, safe, and professional.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Securing the border and enforcing the law is the with side of the border measure.
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
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California 45th District
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