2026 race · follow the money
California U.S. House District 45
8 filings report $9.0M raised, and outside groups reported $17K in independent spending for or against them. Compare where each campaign's money came from and who spent to help or hurt it.
The count.
Checking the election sources…
Side by side.
Raised excludes transfers between a candidate's own committees. Shares are of that total. Filings appear in order of money raised; this includes primary candidates who are no longer running.
| Candidate | Raised | Individuals | PACs | Own money | Spent | Cash | Outside for | Outside against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derek TranDemocrat · Filed as incumbent | $5.5M | 76% | 24% | 0% | $3.6M | $2.7M | $6,638 | $4,548 |
| Michelle SteelRepublican · Filed as challenger | $1.2M | 7% | 0.2% | 91% | $2.2M | $0 | — | $6,199 |
| Chuong VoRepublican · Filed as challenger | $937K | 95% | 4% | 0% | $762K | $175K | — | — |
| Thomas Ky-Phong VoRepublican · Filed as challenger | $757K | 5% | 0% | 95% | $757K | $0 | — | — |
| Chi Charlie NguyenRepublican · Filed as challenger | $485K | 99% | 0% | 0% | $485K | $0 | — | — |
| Amy Phan WestRepublican · Filed as challenger | $60K | 97% | 0% | 2% | $60K | $0 | — | — |
| Mark Andrew LeonardRepublican · Filed as challenger | $26K | 39% | 0% | 61% | $8,457 | $17K | — | — |
| Brian FordeDemocrat · Filed as challenger | $0 | — | — | — | $0 | $221K | — | — |
Who spent from outside.
The largest independent spenders in this race, summed from each candidate's five largest spenders on each side.
- HEALTH CARE SAVES LIVES$6,199 against Michelle Steel
- ORANGE COUNTY PAC$5,641 for Derek Tran
- THE CONSERVATIVE CAUCUS DBA AMERICANS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERTY$4,548 against Derek Tran
- GIVEGREEN UNITED ACTION$666 for Derek Tran
- INDIGO PAC$316 for Derek Tran
- SIERRA CLUB INDEPENDENT ACTION$10 for Derek Tran
- PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF ORANGE AND SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES' COMMUNITY ACTION FUND PAC$5 for Derek Tran
Each campaign.
Sitting member of Congress · Derek Tran
In the U.S. House (CA-45) since 2025 · current term ends Jan 3, 2027
- Recorded yea or nay on 24 of the 24 key House floor votes captured in Hugin's snapshot
- 2 committees: Armed Services, Small Business · 4 subcommittees
- 328 committees reported contributions to them this cycle · 6 committees reported outside spending for or against them
Linked to this filing by its exact FEC candidate ID (H4CA45170) in the congress-legislators roster of Oct 21, 2026. Votes are one key floor vote per bill on bills named in contractor lobbying reports (Oct 29, 2026); committee seats are the roster as of Oct 24, 2026; money counts are FEC reports for 2026 as of Oct 24, 2026. These are what Hugin's snapshots captured, not complete records, and none of them is a score or evidence of motive.
- Raised
- $5.5M
- Spent
- $3.6M
- Cash on hand
- $2.7M
- Debts
- $25K
- Individuals 76% $4.2M
- PACs & other committees 24% $1.3M
- Party committees 0.1% $7,441
Campaign totals through Oct 14, 2026. Excludes $486K moved between the candidate's own committees.
Outside groups: $6,638 supporting · $4,548 opposing ($6,015 of it designated for the general election)
Biggest spenders supporting
- ORANGE COUNTY PAC $5,641
- GIVEGREEN UNITED ACTION $666
- INDIGO PAC $316
Biggest spenders opposing
Largest direct PAC contributions
Where the money went $2.0M in itemized spending
These itemized payments cover $2.0M of the $3.6M the campaign reported spending through Oct 14, 2026. The FEC has not yet itemized the rest in its bulk file, which runs to Jun 30, 2026.
- Advertising & outreach 12% $237K
- Consultants & strategy 25% $497K
- Staff & payroll 21% $429K
- Fundraising & processing fees 15% $295K
- Polling, research & data 5% $108K
- Travel, meals & events 5% $96K
- Office, technology & overhead 6% $119K
- Legal & compliance 3% $68K
- Other or unclassified 8% $155K
Largest payees
- GUSTO $350K
- WESTWEST DIGITAL $272K
- SC INVICTUS CONSULTING, INC. $230K
- ACTBLUE TECHNICAL SERVICES $101K
- IMPACT RESEARCH, INC. $93K
Paid to individuals: $128K, such as staff, contractors and reimbursements. People who were paid are not named here.
Payments dated Jan 2, 2025 to Jun 30, 2026, as itemized by the principal campaign committee in FEC reports (989 entries). Every payment on FEC.gov ↗
Grouped by each campaign's own description of the payment, so the groups are approximate. Payments of $200 or less to one payee need not be itemized, detail filed only as memo entries counts under other or unclassified, and spending by the candidate's other committees or by outside groups is not included. A payment is not evidence of a favor or wrongdoing.
- Raised
- $1.2M
- Spent
- $2.2M
- Cash on hand
- $0
- Individuals 7% $93K
- PACs & other committees 0.2% $2,500
- Candidate's own money & loans 91% $1.1M
- Other receipts 1% $18K
Campaign totals through Oct 9, 2025. Excludes $7,934 moved between the candidate's own committees.
Outside groups: $0 supporting · $6,199 opposing
Biggest spenders opposing
- HEALTH CARE SAVES LIVES $6,199
Largest direct PAC contributions
Where the money went $56K in itemized spending
These itemized payments cover $56K of the $2.2M the campaign reported spending through Oct 9, 2025. The FEC has not yet itemized the rest in its bulk file, which runs to Oct 9, 2025.
- Consultants & strategy 4% $2,500
- Staff & payroll 3% $1,500
- Fundraising & processing fees 12% $6,671
- Office, technology & overhead 2% $897
- Legal & compliance 34% $19K
- Other or unclassified 45% $25K
Largest payees
- CAMPAIGN COMPLIANCE GROUP $24K
- DLG - DHILLON LAW GROUP, INC $15K
- WINRED $6,671
- BYRNE & NIXON LLP $4,496
- PRAETORIAN PUBLIC RELATIONS $2,500
Paid to individuals: $1,529, such as staff, contractors and reimbursements. People who were paid are not named here.
Payments dated Jan 2, 2025 to Oct 9, 2025, as itemized by the principal campaign committee in FEC reports (69 entries). Every payment on FEC.gov ↗
Grouped by each campaign's own description of the payment, so the groups are approximate. Payments of $200 or less to one payee need not be itemized, detail filed only as memo entries counts under other or unclassified, and spending by the candidate's other committees or by outside groups is not included. A payment is not evidence of a favor or wrongdoing.
- Raised
- $937K
- Spent
- $762K
- Cash on hand
- $175K
- Debts
- $54K
- Individuals 95% $887K
- PACs & other committees 4% $40K
- Other receipts 1% $11K
Campaign totals through Oct 14, 2026.
No independent expenditures for or against this filing are itemized in the bulk file.
Largest direct PAC contributions
Where the money went $418K in itemized spending
These itemized payments cover $418K of the $762K the campaign reported spending through Oct 14, 2026. The FEC has not yet itemized the rest in its bulk file, which runs to Jun 30, 2026.
- Advertising & outreach 40% $166K
- Consultants & strategy 8% $32K
- Fundraising & processing fees 42% $175K
- Travel, meals & events 3% $13K
- Office, technology & overhead 2% $7,578
- Legal & compliance 0.4% $1,568
- Other or unclassified 6% $24K
Largest payees
- ATLAS STRATEGY GROUP $167K
- TARGETED VICTORY LLC $138K
- STACY DAVIS & ASSOCIATES $29K
- CAMPAIGN COMPLIANCE GROUP, INC. $20K
- EFUNDRAISING CONNECTIONS $9,756
Paid to individuals: $7,667, such as staff, contractors and reimbursements. People who were paid are not named here.
Payments dated Oct 23, 2025 to Jun 30, 2026, as itemized by the principal campaign committee in FEC reports (133 entries). Every payment on FEC.gov ↗
Grouped by each campaign's own description of the payment, so the groups are approximate. Payments of $200 or less to one payee need not be itemized, detail filed only as memo entries counts under other or unclassified, and spending by the candidate's other committees or by outside groups is not included. A payment is not evidence of a favor or wrongdoing.
- Raised
- $757K
- Spent
- $757K
- Cash on hand
- $0
- Individuals 5% $37K
- Candidate's own money & loans 95% $720K
Campaign totals through Jun 16, 2026.
No independent expenditures for or against this filing are itemized in the bulk file.
Where the money went $742K in itemized spending
- Advertising & outreach 38% $285K
- Consultants & strategy 61% $450K
- Travel, meals & events 0.2% $1,373
- Office, technology & overhead 0.1% $492
- Legal & compliance 0.7% $4,995
Largest payees
- KP & ASSOCIATES $735K
- AXCAPITAL, LLC $4,995
- SHELL OIL $850
- PHO GARLIC $523
- T-MOBILE $492
Payments dated Dec 1, 2025 to Jun 9, 2026, as itemized by the principal campaign committee in FEC reports (29 entries). Every payment on FEC.gov ↗
Grouped by each campaign's own description of the payment, so the groups are approximate. Payments of $200 or less to one payee need not be itemized, detail filed only as memo entries counts under other or unclassified, and spending by the candidate's other committees or by outside groups is not included. A payment is not evidence of a favor or wrongdoing.
- Raised
- $485K
- Spent
- $485K
- Cash on hand
- $0
- Individuals 99% $480K
- Other receipts 1% $5,000
Campaign totals through Jul 10, 2026.
No independent expenditures for or against this filing are itemized in the bulk file.
Where the money went $443K in itemized spending
- Advertising & outreach 80% $355K
- Consultants & strategy 10% $44K
- Fundraising & processing fees 6% $28K
- Polling, research & data 0.7% $3,248
- Travel, meals & events 2% $7,609
- Office, technology & overhead 0.3% $1,382
- Legal & compliance 0.7% $3,251
Largest payees
- ECHO CANYON CONSULTING, LLC $165K
- GO BIG MEDIA LLC $137K
- OUTLAW MEDIA $25K
- A2Z PRINTING & PROMOTIONS $21K
- FOSZO $11K
Paid to individuals: $15K, such as staff, contractors and reimbursements. People who were paid are not named here.
Payments dated Sep 14, 2025 to Jul 5, 2026, as itemized by the principal campaign committee in FEC reports (53 entries). Every payment on FEC.gov ↗
Grouped by each campaign's own description of the payment, so the groups are approximate. Payments of $200 or less to one payee need not be itemized, detail filed only as memo entries counts under other or unclassified, and spending by the candidate's other committees or by outside groups is not included. A payment is not evidence of a favor or wrongdoing.
- Raised
- $60K
- Spent
- $60K
- Cash on hand
- $0
- Individuals 97% $58K
- Candidate's own money & loans 2% $1,083
- Other receipts 2% $960
Campaign totals through Sep 30, 2026.
No independent expenditures for or against this filing are itemized in the bulk file.
Where the money went $47K in itemized spending
These itemized payments cover $47K of the $60K the campaign reported spending through Sep 30, 2026. The FEC has not yet itemized the rest in its bulk file, which runs to Jun 30, 2026.
- Advertising & outreach 30% $14K
- Consultants & strategy 1% $613
- Fundraising & processing fees 10% $4,703
- Legal & compliance 29% $14K
- Other or unclassified 29% $14K
Largest payees
- CITI AADVANTAGE CARD $11K
- LYSA RAY CAMPAIGN SERVICES $11K
- EMOTIV MARKETING $3,695
- LOS ANGELES REGISTRAR OF VOTERS $2,900
- CPG $2,153
Paid to individuals: $14K, such as staff, contractors and reimbursements. People who were paid are not named here.
Payments dated Oct 1, 2025 to Jun 30, 2026, as itemized by the principal campaign committee in FEC reports (28 entries). Every payment on FEC.gov ↗
Grouped by each campaign's own description of the payment, so the groups are approximate. Payments of $200 or less to one payee need not be itemized, detail filed only as memo entries counts under other or unclassified, and spending by the candidate's other committees or by outside groups is not included. A payment is not evidence of a favor or wrongdoing.
- Raised
- $26K
- Spent
- $8,457
- Cash on hand
- $17K
- Debts
- $19K
- Individuals 39% $10K
- Candidate's own money & loans 61% $16K
Campaign totals through Sep 30, 2026.
No independent expenditures for or against this filing are itemized in the bulk file.
Where the money went $6,278 in itemized spending
These itemized payments cover $6,278 of the $8,457 the campaign reported spending through Sep 30, 2026. The FEC has not yet itemized the rest in its bulk file, which runs to Sep 15, 2026.
- Advertising & outreach 8% $470
- Polling, research & data 2% $147
- Office, technology & overhead 62% $3,873
- Other or unclassified 29% $1,788
Largest payees
- MARK LEONARD FOR CALIFORNIA $5,645
Paid to individuals: $632, such as staff, contractors and reimbursements. People who were paid are not named here.
Payments dated Nov 28, 2025 to Sep 15, 2026, as itemized by the principal campaign committee in FEC reports (19 entries). Every payment on FEC.gov ↗
Grouped by each campaign's own description of the payment, so the groups are approximate. Payments of $200 or less to one payee need not be itemized, detail filed only as memo entries counts under other or unclassified, and spending by the candidate's other committees or by outside groups is not included. A payment is not evidence of a favor or wrongdoing.
- Raised
- $0
- Spent
- $0
- Cash on hand
- $221K
Campaign totals through Oct 14, 2026.
No independent expenditures for or against this filing are itemized in the bulk file.
Largest direct PAC contributions
No itemized operating expenditures from this candidate's principal campaign committee are in the FEC bulk file yet.
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FEC bulk data read November 4, 2026. Campaign totals come from each filing's own FEC summary through its latest processed report. Outside spending is independent expenditures itemized in committee reports in the FEC bulk files, primaries included; late 24- and 48-hour reports, party coordinated spending, communication costs and groups that do not report to the FEC are not included. Outside spending is, by law, made without coordinating with the candidate, and it is not the candidate's money. A contribution or expenditure is not evidence of a vote, favor or wrongdoing.