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Setting the stage for what is expected to be one of the nation’s hottest Congressional races of 2010, Assemblyman Van Tran announced today that he will challenge seven-term Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez. Tran had been recruited heavily by Washington GOP leaders, who consider central Orange County’s 47th Congressional District one of their best chances for gaining a seat next year. “Both sides will be pouring resources into this,” Tran said in anticipation of a heavily funded drive. Democrats have a 12.4 percentage point advantage in the central county district and Sanchez is popular there, winning by 44 percentage points in...

Elected to the 68th Assembly District, Van Tran is the first Vietnamese-American to serve in the California State legislature. Throughout his term in the Assembly, Van Tran has enjoyed national media exposure, and has become one of the most popular figures in Orange County Republican circles.

. 30 years ago, exactly, after the fall of Saigon a 10 year old Cub Scout named VAN TRAN came to America speaking only 2 words of English. 1 year ago, exactly, VAN TRAN entered the California State Legislature as a State Assemblyman. Next year = The California State Senate .

. NEVER FORGET On Monday December 6, 2004 at 11:00 am the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court RON GEORGE gleefully administered the Oath of Office to the 1st Vietnamese-American to enter a State Legislature... ...one VAN TRAN. His Oath of Office to the California State Assembly was administered in the Governor's Press Conference Room across the hallway from Gov. ARNOLD's Office. December 6, 2004 = One giant step towards Freedom's Return to Vietnam. Signed:.."ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer - A Vietnam Veteran Witness NEVER FORGET .

Here are a few mainstream media rules of thumb: Minority Democrats in public office are inspirational role models. Minority Republicans in public office are embarrassing sellouts. Minority Democrat politicians are principled. Minority Republican politicians are misguided. Minority Democrat politicians represent the hopes and dreams of all Americans. Minority Republican politicians are traitors to their "communities." These rules are unwritten, of course, but the minority politician double standard is glaringly obvious in the national media fawning over newly elected U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. After Obama's Democratic National Convention address this summer, the New York Times exulted: "As Quickly as Overnight,...

Nov 4, 3:02 AM EST First Vietnamese-American lawmaker is object of pride and threats By BEN FOX Associated Press Writer WESTMINSTER, Calif. (AP) -- The first order of business for Van Tran, following his election night success, was a trip to a Vietnam War memorial. With a bodyguard. That's politics in Southern California's Little Saigon, where the first Vietnamese-American elected to a state legislature - and the nation's highest-ranking Vietnamese-American elected official - is an object of community pride and death threats. Tran said he has been told by two people he considers reliable that Vietnamese communists have targeted him...

First Vietnamese-American lawmaker object of pride, threats WESTMINSTER, Calif. - The first order of business for Van Tran, following his election night success, was a trip to a Vietnam War memorial. With a bodyguard. That's politics in Southern California's Little Saigon, where the first Vietnamese-American elected to a state legislature - and the nation's highest-ranking Vietnamese-American elected official - is an object of community pride and death threats. Tran said he has been told by two people he considers reliable that Vietnamese communists have targeted him for assassination because of his new political status and past activism against the regime...