Tom Vo Tops Republican Challengers in CA-45 Money Race as Field Takes Shape

With the March filing deadline behind us, the fundraising battle to unseat Derek Tran is coming into focus

Tom Vo has emerged as the leading fundraiser among Republican challengers in the CA-45 race, reporting $502,800 for the most recent quarter — while Amy Phan West draws support from a broad base of small individual donors.

The 2026 race to represent California's 45th Congressional District is heating up — and the early money tells an interesting story.

With the March 6 filing deadline now passed and the June 2 primary approaching, the Republican field to challenge incumbent Rep. Derek Tran is taking shape. According to Federal Election Commission data, Tom Vo has emerged as the leading fundraiser among Republican challengers, with $502,800 raised in the most recent quarterly period.

That number puts Vo well ahead of the rest of the declared Republican field. Chi Charlie Nguyen, the Westminster mayor who has also declared his candidacy, reported $131,950 for the quarter with approximately $362,000 cash on hand. Former Cerritos mayor Chuong Vo reported $91,765. Republican Mark Andrew Leonard reported $25,940.

The CA-45 district, which covers much of Orange County including Westminster, Garden Grove, and parts of Los Angeles County with a large Vietnamese-American population, has become one of the most closely watched House races in the country. Tran won the seat in 2024 by just 613 votes — a margin so thin it made national headlines.

Phan West Courts Small-Dollar Donors

Westminster City Councilwoman Amy Phan West is also in the race. Her FEC filings show a donor base composed primarily of small individual contributions, with most donations coming in well below the federal maximum. Phan West has positioned herself as a grassroots candidate, relying on a high volume of smaller donors rather than large institutional or PAC money.

Phan West, a daughter of Vietnamese refugees, has served on the Westminster City Council and is running on a conservative platform focused on border security, small business, and public safety.

The Road Ahead

On the Democratic side, Tran has built a formidable war chest. The incumbent reported approximately $670,000 in the most recent quarter and holds more than $2.28 million cash on hand — a significant advantage heading into what is expected to be one of California's most competitive House races.

The CA-45 primary is a top-two contest. That means the two candidates with the most votes advance to November, regardless of party. With multiple Republicans in the field, the party faces a real risk of splitting its vote — a scenario that could benefit Tran even if the overall anti-Democrat sentiment in the district remains strong.

Fundraising won't win this race by itself. But in a district decided by 613 votes, every dollar — and every donor — matters.

The June 2 primary is 84 days away.