Van Tran
Encyclopedia
Van Thai Tran born October 19, 1964) is an attorney
and politician
in California
, formerly serving as a Republican
member of the California State Assembly
, representing portions of Orange County
. Tran and Texas
State Representative
Hubert Vo
were the highest-ranking Vietnamese American
elected officials in U.S. history until Anh Cao was elected to the United States House of Representatives in December 2008. 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
.
, 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. After originally settling in Michigan
, they moved to Orange County when Tran was a teenager.
Tran worked as an intern and later as a staff aide for Congressman Bob Dornan
and for State Senator
Ed Royce
while a student at the University of California, Irvine
, where he earned a B.A.
in Political Science
in 1990. Tran completed an Master of Public Administration
from Hamline University
and a J.D.
from Hamline University School of Law
. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1994.
In 2000, Tran was elected to the Garden Grove
City Council
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). After serving one term on the council, he was elected to the California State Assembly to replace outgoing Republican state assemblyman Ken Maddox
, who was forced to retire due to term limits. Tran was re-elected to the Assembly in 2006 and 2008.
for a 2006 run against Democratic
First District Orange County Supervisor Lou Correa
in the race for the State Senate seat being vacated by term limit
ed Democrat Joe Dunn
. Tran opted not to join the race, allowing Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher
to win the Republican nomination with nominal opposition, and she went on to lose the general election to Correa by a 1% margin.
On November 7, 2006, Tran was re-elected to the Assembly with 62% of the vote.
. Tran was endorsed by Senator John McCain
.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, formerly serving as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
, representing portions of Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. Tran and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
State Representative
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
Hubert Vo
Hubert Vo
Hubert Vo is a member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 149. He is the first and only Vietnamese American to be elected to the Texas legislature.-Personal life:...
were the highest-ranking Vietnamese American
Vietnamese American
A Vietnamese American is an American of Vietnamese descent. They make up about half of all overseas Vietnamese and are the fourth-largest Asian American group....
elected officials in U.S. history until Anh Cao was elected to the United States House of Representatives in December 2008. 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
Floor Leader
Floor Leaders are leaders of their political parties in each of the houses of the legislature.- Senate :In the United States Senate, they are elected by their respective party conferences to serve as the chief Senate spokesmen for their parties and to manage and schedule the legislative and...
.
Early life, education and career
Born in Saigon, South VietnamSouth Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
, Tran and his family emigrated to the United States after being evacuated by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
one week before the Fall of Saigon
Fall of Saigon
The Fall of Saigon was the capture of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, by the People's Army of Vietnam and the National Liberation Front on April 30, 1975...
, when he was 10 years old. After originally settling in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, they moved to Orange County when Tran was a teenager.
Tran worked as an intern and later as a staff aide for Congressman Bob Dornan
Bob Dornan
Robert Kenneth "Bob" Dornan is a Republican and former member of the United States House of Representatives from California and a vocal advocate of pro-life and social conservative causes....
and for State Senator
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
Ed Royce
Ed Royce
Edward Randall "Ed" Royce is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 39th, serving in Congress since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district lies in northern Orange County, including portions of Stanton, Cypress, Buena Park, Fullerton, Anaheim, Placentia, and Orange...
while a student at the University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
, where he earned a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
in 1990. Tran completed an Master of Public Administration
Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration is a professional post-graduate degree in Public Administration. The MPA program prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state/provincial, and federal/national government, and increasingly in nongovernmental organization and...
from Hamline University
Hamline University
-Red Wing location :Hamline was named in honor of Leonidas Lent Hamline, a bishop of the Methodist Church whose interest in the frontier led him to donate $25,000 toward the building of an institution of higher learning in what was then the territory of Minnesota. Today, a statue of Bishop Hamline...
and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Hamline University School of Law
Hamline University School of Law
Hamline University School of Law is a private law school affiliated with Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The School of Law was founded in 1972 as the Midwestern School of Law by a group of legal professionals. In 1976, it was absorbed by Hamline University as its own School of Law,...
. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1994.
In 2000, Tran was elected to the Garden Grove
Garden Grove, California
Garden Grove is a city located in northern Orange County, California. The population was 170,883 at the 2010 census. State Route 22, also known as the Garden Grove Freeway, passes through the city running east-west. The city is known outside the Southern California area for being the home of Robert H...
City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
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
Tony Lam
Tony Lâm is a politician from California. In 1992, he won a seat on the Westminster City Council, becoming the first Vietnamese-born person to be elected into a political office in the United States....
was the first when he was elected to the city council of neighboring Westminster
Westminster, California
-Government:In the state legislature Westminster is located in the 34th, Senate District, represented by Democrat Lou Correa and Republican Tom Harman respectively, and in the 67th and 68th Assembly District, represented by Republicans Jim Silva and Van Tran respectively...
in 1992). After serving one term on the council, he was elected to the California State Assembly to replace outgoing Republican state assemblyman Ken Maddox
Ken Maddox
Kenneth W. "Ken" Maddox, also known as Ken Lopez-Maddox is a former California State Assemblyman who served from 1998 until 2004, representing part of Orange County....
, who was forced to retire due to term limits. Tran was re-elected to the Assembly in 2006 and 2008.
California State Assembly
Tran represents the 68th District. He is the Vice Chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee. He also serves on the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee and the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee. In June 2007, he was appointed by the Assembly Speaker as chairman of the Select Committee on International Trade.2006
On December 21, 2005, Tran announced that he would launch an exploratory committeeExploratory Committee
In the election politics of the United States, an exploratory committee is an organization established to help determine whether a potential candidate should run for an elected office. They are most often cited in reference to United States Presidential hopefuls, prior to the primaries.Exploratory...
for a 2006 run against Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
First District Orange County Supervisor Lou Correa
Lou Correa
Jose Luis Correa is a California Democratic Party Legislator. He is serving his second term as a member of the California State Senate, representing the 34th Senate District...
in the race for the State Senate seat being vacated by term limit
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
ed Democrat Joe Dunn
Joe Dunn (California)
Joe Dunn is a Democratic former California State Senator who represented California's 34th Senate District in central Orange County and led the state's investigation into Enron's involvement in the 2000-2001 energy crisis. He was first elected to the state Senate in 1998, when he unseated incumbent...
. Tran opted not to join the race, allowing Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher
Lynn Daucher
Lynn Daucher is a United States politician who was a Republican California State Assemblywoman from Orange County from 2000 until 2006 when she was term limited. That year, Daucher ran for the California State Senate seat being vacated by Joseph Dunn, but lost to Orange County Supervisor and...
to win the Republican nomination with nominal opposition, and she went on to lose the general election to Correa by a 1% margin.
On November 7, 2006, Tran was re-elected to the Assembly with 62% of the vote.
2010
Tran challenged and lost to Democratic incumbent Loretta SanchezLoretta Sanchez
Loretta Sanchez is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 46th, serving since 2003. She is a member of the Democratic Party, and a member of the Blue Dog Coalition. The district lies in central Orange County....
. Tran was endorsed by Senator John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
.