Republican congressional nominee Chuong Vo sent a formal letter to Rep. Derek Tran on Wednesday demanding he remove a Facebook post his campaign circulated that placed red targets over Vo's photo and images of American flags. The letter was co-signed by two sitting members of Congress and a copy went directly to the House Ethics Committee.

The September 10 letter was addressed to Tran at the Longworth House Office Building in Washington. It was co-signed by Rep. Young Kim of California's 40th District and Rep. Ken Calvert of the 41st District. The date was not incidental: September 10, 2026 is the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah on September 10, 2025.

"I write today, joined by fellow community leaders, regarding a post circulated on Facebook by your campaign team placing bold red targets across my photograph and an image prominently displaying American flags," Vo wrote. "Your campaign bears your name, and you are responsible for the messages you amplify and the conduct of those representing you."

Vo, a retired police officer and former mayor of Cerritos, is challenging Tran in California's 45th Congressional District this November. His family fled Vietnam as refugees, and he has made the American flag central to his campaign identity. His endorsement list includes state Sen. Tony Strickland, Assemblymembers Tri Ta and Carl DeMaio, OC Board of Education President Mari Barke, Westminster Mayor Charlie Nguyen, Fountain Valley Mayor Jim Cunneen, Huntington Beach Mayor Casey McKeon, Seal Beach Mayor Lisa Landau, Stanton Mayor David Shawver, and Westminster Councilmember Amy Phan West, among others.

"I can handle political criticism; it comes with the territory," Vo wrote. "But I will not stand by while your campaign disrespects the American flag. After fleeing Vietnam, my family found freedom and opportunity in this country, and that flag represents the promise that made our life here possible."

Tran's record on political violence rhetoric

The letter frames the red-target post as part of a documented pattern. It cites Tran's prior remarks about "kicking political opponents when they are down," the campaign's promotion of "8647" imagery, and now the flag-targeting post.

The "8647" incident drew national attention earlier this year. Tran's campaign shared four photographs from a John Lewis candlelight vigil in Brea organized by Indivisible CA-45. One photo showed a demonstrator holding a sign reading "Get into some good trouble 8647." The combination — "86" meaning to eliminate, "47" referring to President Trump as the 47th president — had previously landed former FBI Director James Comey under federal indictment after he posted a similar image. The National Republican Congressional Committee demanded Tran delete the post and apologize, calling it "giving political violence a wink and a nod." The Orange County Republican Party posted simply: "What's wrong with @DerekTranCA45?"

Tran did not apologize. His campaign described the vigil as honoring Lewis' civil rights legacy.

The red-target post now follows the same pattern. "At a time when we need to come together more than ever, the messages you amplify risk deepening division and fueling an increasingly dangerous political climate," Wednesday's letter states. "As a retired law enforcement officer, I know this rhetoric can carry real consequences for public safety."

Three demands and an Ethics referral

Vo, Kim, and Calvert issued three specific demands: that Tran take personal responsibility for his campaign's conduct, direct his team to remove the post immediately, and issue a public apology. "You must clearly condemn rhetoric that encourages harm against political opponents and unequivocally reject political intimidation and violence," the letter states. "Our community deserves a prompt, public response backed by action, and it is your responsibility to deliver it."

The letter also hits Tran on residency, a recurring issue in his first term. "Just because you do not reside in this district does not mean you can disregard your responsibility to those of us who do."

The Ethics Committee referral signals the signatories are willing to escalate beyond a press statement. Tran's office had not responded as of publication.

The CA-45 general election is November 3. The redrawn district covers portions of Westminster, Garden Grove, and surrounding communities in central Orange County. North OC Pulse has previously reported on Tran's pattern of taking credit for federal funding he voted against and his campaign's documented interference in the CA-45 Republican primary.