In a closely watched congressional race in Southern California, Democratic newcomer Derek Tran has defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Michelle Steel in the 45th District, marking a historic win that will make him the first Vietnamese American to represent Little Saigon.
After a tight race that took nearly two weeks to determine, Tran emerged victorious with a 613-vote lead when Steel conceded on Wednesday. The district, which spans parts of Orange and Los Angeles counties, includes the largest Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam.
Born to Vietnamese refugee parents in the United States, Tran's victory carries deep personal significance. "Only in America can you go from refugees fleeing with nothing but the clothes on your back to becoming a member of Congress in just one generation," Tran stated on social media following his win.
The race became one of the nation's most expensive congressional contests, drawing substantial funding from both parties. The 45th District was particularly crucial as both Democrats and Republicans fought for control of the House of Representatives. With Steel's defeat, Republicans will hold 220 seats in the House, just above the 218 needed for majority control.
Both candidates heavily targeted Asian American voters, who comprise the largest voting bloc in the district. Steel, who made history in 2020 as one of three Korean American women elected to the House, focused on anti-communist messaging to appeal to older Vietnamese voters. Tran concentrated his outreach on Vietnamese American voters and Vietnamese-language media.
The campaign saw controversy over political mailers, with Steel's team sending Vietnamese-language materials linking Tran to communist imagery, while Tran's campaign questioned Steel's stance on China.
In her concession statement, Steel thanked her supporters and said, "Everything is God's will and, like all journeys, this one is ending for a new one to begin." Both candidates have already filed paperwork for the 2026 election.
This victory represents a key win for Democrats in California, where the party targeted multiple competitive Republican-held seats. The race was the third-to-last House contest to be called nationwide, with just one race remaining undecided in California's 13th Congressional District.