Top line:
Nearly 50 years after the fall of Saigon, Democrat Derek Tran was sworn in to Congress, becoming the first Vietnamese American to represent Little Saigon in Orange County.
Who is Tran: A personal injury attorney, Tran is the son of Vietnamese refugees who grew up in the San Gabriel Valley and later immigrated to Orange County, where he runs a pharmacy with his wife.
The backstory: Tran has proven to be the toughest challenger to two-term Republican incumbent Michelle Steele for the 45th Congressional District seat. Candidates ran on party platforms to represent districts that span Orange and Los Angeles counties. Steele had developed relationships with Vietnamese American Republicans who controlled the government in Little Saigon, home to the world’s largest Vietnamese diaspora. Tran’s campaign said many Vietnamese Americans support the Democratic Party across party lines.
Campaign: More than $46 million was poured into the 45th race, making it the most expensive race in the country. The election was one of the last to be decided in the country, with Tran winning by a margin of 653 votes.
More: Republican Michelle Steel loses 45th House seat to Democrat Derek Tran
