Van Tran

Van Tran
Orange County Water District Board of Directors, Division 2
Incumbent
Assumed office
September 26, 2024
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 68th district
In office
December 6, 2004 – November 30, 2010
Preceded byKen Maddox
Succeeded byAllan Mansoor
Personal details
Born (1964-10-19) October 19, 1964
Saigon, South Vietnam
PartyRepublican
SpouseCyndi Nguyen (m. 2004)
Children3

Van Thai Tran[1] (Vietnamese: Trần Thái Văn;[2] born October 19, 1964) is a Vietnamese American attorney and politician in California, formerly serving as a Republican member of the California State Assembly, representing portions of Orange County. Tran was the highest-ranking Vietnamese American elected official was the highest-ranking Vietnamese American elected official in U.S. history[3][4][5] along with Hubert Vo[6] until Joseph Cao was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2008.[7] Tran took office one month before Vo did, making him the first Vietnamese American to serve in a state legislature. He served in the Assembly as Assistant Republican Leader.

Early life, education and career

On October 19, 1964, Tran was born in Saigon, South Vietnam.[8] Tran and his family emigrated to the United States after being evacuated by the United States Army one week before the Fall of Saigon, when he was 10 years old.[9] After originally settling in Grand Rapids, Michigan,[3] they moved to Orange County when Tran was in high school.[10]

Tran worked as an intern and later as a staff aide for Congressman Bob Dornan and for State Senator Ed Royce.[3] He earned a B.A. in Political Science at the University of California, Irvine. Tran completed a Master of Public Administration from Hamline University and a J.D. from Hamline University School of Law.[11][10][12] He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1994.[13]

In 2000, Tran was elected to the Garden Grove City Council[4][14] with the highest number of votes in city history and became only the second Vietnamese American man to be elected to office in the United States (Tony Lam was the first when he was elected to the city council of neighboring Westminster in 1992).

California State Assembly

Elections

2004

In 2004, after incumbent Ken Maddox became term-limited, Tran ran against Mark Leyes for his seat, the 68th assembly district.[15] On November 2, 2004, Tran was elected to the California Assembly.[4]

2006

Tran was re-elected to the Assembly in 2006. On November 7, 2006, Tran won re-election with 62% of the vote.[16]

2008

Tran also ran for re-election in 2008, winning the general election with 54% of the vote.[17] Tran was re-elected to the Assembly in 2008.

Tenure

Tran represented the 68th District. He was the Vice Chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee. He also served on the Banking and Finance Committee and the Governmental Organization Committee.[18] In June 2007, he was appointed by the Assembly Speaker as chairman of the Select Committee on International Trade.[19]

Post-Assembly activities

2010 congressional election

Main article: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in California § District 47

In April 28, 2009, Politico reported that prominent Republicans such as John McCain encouraged Tran, who was term-limited from the state Assembly, to run for California's 47th congressional district.[20] Ultimately, after running in the primary for the Republican nomination, Tran faced off against the seven-term Democratic incumbent Loretta Sanchez in the general election.[9][21] The race attracted mainstream attention, with Rudy Giuliani and Bill Clinton stumping for Tran and Sanchez, respectively.[21] Some Vietnamese were angered by Sanchez's comment that "the Vietnamese and the Republicans" sought to win her seat.[22] Tran ultimately lost, only winning 39.3% of the vote compared to Sanchez's 53.0%.[23]

2014 State Board of Equalization election

Main article: 2014 California State Board of Equalization elections § District 4

In 2013, Tran announced that he would run for State Board of Equalization representing District 4.[24] In June 2014, the results determined that a runoff election would be held between the top two candidates Nader Shahatit and Assemblywoman Diane Harkey;[25] Harkey would later go on to win in the general election.[26]

2024 Orange County Board of Supervisors election

After incumbent Andrew Do termed out of office, Tran ran for Orange County Supervisor to represent District 1. Tran was endorsed by Andrew Do, who Tran worked for as Chief of Staff.[27] Tran ended up in third place behind Cypress City Councilmember Frances Marquez and state Senator Janet Nguyen in the primary for the first district; the top two candidates competed in a runoff election later in November.[28]

California politics

In August 2022, Tran was appointed Chief of Staff for Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do.[29]

In December 2022, Tran was appointed to the Orange County Water District Board of Directors to represent Division 4 after the seat had been vacated by Tri Ta.[30] The same month, he was elected as second vice president.[31] In September 2024, Orange County would announce that Tran, who had run as an appointed incumbent, would be appointed again for the position by default in lieu of an election due to a lack of qualified opponents.[32]

Personal life

In 2004, he married his wife, Cyndi Nguyen.[10] As of 2022, Tran has three children and resides in Westminster.[33] Tran is a Catholic.[3]

Electoral history

California's 47th congressional district[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Loretta Sanchez (incumbent) 50,832 53.0
Republican Van Tran 37,679 39.3
Independent Ceci Iglesias 7,443 7.7
Total votes 95,954 100.0

References

  1. ^ Schou, Nick (2007-09-06). "Little Saigon's never-ending war". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-01-12. Republican Assemblyman Van Thai Tran of Garden Grove, the most powerful Vietnamese American elected official in the country
  2. ^ Nguyen, Manh Kim (2023-05-01). "Những điều chưa kể về Trần Thái Văn". The Little Saigon News. Retrieved 2026-01-12.
  3. ^ a b c d Wides, Laura (2004-08-02). "Orange County man seeks to be top-ranking elected Vietnamese American". The Press Democrat. Associated Press. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  4. ^ a b c Roeflofs, Ted (November 22, 2004). "Refugee earns place in political mainstream". The Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved January 10, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Yoshino, Kimi (2004-03-04). "On His Way to a Milestone". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  6. ^ Ta, Quyen L. (2005). "Vietnamese Americans, the Voting Rights Act, and Electoral Power: Challenges to Being Counted". Asian Pacific American Law Journal. 10 (1). eScholarship Publishing, California Digital Library, Asian Pacific American Law Journal: 88–122. ISSN 2169-7795. JSTOR 45456781. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  7. ^ Blake, Aaron (2009-01-21). "Cao's win in Louisiana paves way for another Vietnamese-American". The Hill. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  8. ^ "The Legislature". California Political Almanac 2007-2008. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press. 2007. p. 116–361. doi:10.4135/9781483302751.n6. ISBN 978-0-87289-504-1. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  9. ^ a b Jaffe, Ina (2010-01-01). "GOP Hopes 'Fresh Face' Will Unseat Calif. Incumbent". NPR. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  10. ^ a b c "Legislator Profile: Assembly Member Van Tran" (PDF). The Capital Connection. Vol. 7, no. 3. California Courts. March 2005. pp. 1, 6. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  11. ^ Tran, Mai (2005-02-06). "Tran Is First and Doesn't Forget It for a Second". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-01-13.
  12. ^ "California Asian & Pacific Islander (API) Legislative Caucus". A History of Asian Americans in the California Legislature. 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  13. ^ CA State Bar Records
  14. ^ Do, Anh (2025-04-29). "Tony Lam was an original influencer in Little Saigon". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  15. ^ "68th Assembly District". Newspapers.com. 2004-02-29. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  16. ^ "2006 general election results for the California State Assembly" (PDF). California Secretary of State.
  17. ^ "2008 general election results for the California State Assembly" (PDF). California Secretary of State.
  18. ^ "History of Asian Americans in the California Legislature". California Asian & Pacific Islander (API) Legislative CaucusA. 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2026-01-12.
  19. ^ Lin, Judy (July 19, 2007). "Wine helps budget optimism flow". The Sacramento Bee. p. A4. Archived from the original on April 30, 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2026. [Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñéz] named Assemblyman Van Tran, a Vietnamese Republican from Orange County, to chair the newly created Select Committee on International Trade
  20. ^ Kraushaar, Josh (2009-04-28). "Is Van Tran the GOP's future?". POLITICO. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  21. ^ a b Medina, Jennifer (2010-10-15). "Loretta Sanchez Debates Van Tran in California". The New York Times. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  22. ^ Cathcart, Rebecca (2010-09-25). "California: Lawmaker's Comments Anger Vietnamese". The New York Times. Retrieved 2026-01-12.
  23. ^ a b "United States Representative: 47th Congressional District" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved 2026-01-12.
  24. ^ Do, Anh (2013-10-07). "Vietnamese American politician Van Tran plots a comeback". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  25. ^ "Harkey among leaders for Board of Equalization seat". 4 June 2014.
  26. ^ Megerian, Chris (2014-11-07). "Voters preserve status quo on state Board of Equalization". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-01-12.
  27. ^ "Scandal shadows Andrew Do's final year on the O.C. Board of Supervisors". Los Angeles Times. 2024-04-08. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  28. ^ Biesiada, Noah (2024-03-06). "Primary Election Night Results: OC First District Supervisor". Voice of OC. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  29. ^ "Supervisor Andrew Do - 1st District Newsletter". bos.ocgov.com. August 3, 2022. Archived from the original on 2024-07-20. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  30. ^ "Former California Assemblyman Van Tran Appointed to Orange County Water District Board" (PDF). Orange County Water District. Fountain Valley, California. December 9, 2022. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  31. ^ "Around Town: Corona del Mar home lighting contest winners named". Los Angeles Times, Daily Pilot. 2022-12-24. Retrieved 2026-01-12.
  32. ^ Page, Bob (September 24, 2024). "Registrar of Voters Certificate of Nominees to Be Appointed in Lieu of Election" (PDF). County of Orange Registrar of Voters. Retrieved 2026-01-12.
  33. ^ "Former California Assemblyman Van Tran Appointed to Orange County Water District Board" (PDF). Orange County Water District. Fountain Valley, California. December 9, 2022. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
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