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Chuong V. Vo, CA-45 candidate, 2026 primary election questionnaire

May 5, 2026

Ahead of the June primary election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.

Name: Chuong V. Vo

Current job title: Retired Police Officer

Age: 50

Political party affiliation: Republican

Incumbent: No

Other political positions held: Councilmember/Mayor of Cerritos

City where you reside: Cerritos

Campaign website or social media: vo4congress.com

From voter ID to war powers and from immigration to tariffs, Congress has tackled many issues over the past year. What do you, though, see as the top three issues impacting Californians, and what specifically could you do as a lawmaker to address these issues? (Please answer in 250 words or less, and keep your response to future proposals.)

I believe the three biggest issues facing our state and my district are the cost of living, public safety, and immigration.

Families across our community are being squeezed by high prices on gas, rent and mortgage rates, and cost of food.

As mayor, I had to balance budgets and focus the government on core services. Washington should do the same instead of the reckless spending that fuels inflation. After nearly three decades in law enforcement, I’ve also seen how fentanyl and organized crime tear through communities. We need to support law enforcement and crack down on drug traffickers. We need a secure border once and for all and institute an immigration system that is functional.

Speaking of voter ID, the president has implored Congress to approve legislation that would require people to show proof of citizenship in order to vote. What role do you believe the federal government plays in telling states how to conduct their own elections, as dictated by the U.S. Constitution? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

The Constitution puts states in charge of running elections, and I respect that. The federal government also has a responsibility to protect the integrity of federal elections. Requiring proof of citizenship to vote is a basic safeguard that helps maintain confidence in our election system. Our system should make it easy to vote and hard to cheat, while still allowing states flexibility in how they run their elections.

What, in your opinion, should the federal government focus on when it comes to immigration policy? For example, do you place a priority on border security, visas for high-skilled workers, refuge for asylum seekers, etc., and why? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

I came to America as a refugee from communist Vietnam, so immigration is personal to me. Our country gave me and my family an opportunity, and that’s something worth protecting. But the system only works if the rules are enforced. The first step must be securing the border and restoring order. After that, we should modernize legal immigration, including visas for skilled workers. We also need asylum laws that are fair and not ripe for abuse.

It’s been over a year since Gov. Gavin Newsom asked the federal government for supplemental disaster aid to help Southern California communities rebuild after the devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires, but neither President Donald Trump nor Congress has acted. What would you do to push for the funding, besides writing letters to the Trump administration or the leaders of Congress? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

Communities rebuilding after wildfires shouldn’t have to wait years for help; what is happening in LA is an outrage. I’ve seen how critical coordination is between local, state, and federal agencies when disasters hit. In Congress, I’d work with members from both parties to build real momentum for disaster funding. Sometimes that means attaching relief funding to other legislation so it can actually be approved. The goal should be to get help to families and communities trying to rebuild and make sure that the funding isn’t abused.

Do you support a ban or restriction on congressional lawmakers and their families from buying or selling individual stocks? Why or why not? And what would you propose to ensure lawmakers aren’t using their positions to engage in insider trading? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

Public trust matters. When I served as mayor, people expected decisions to be made in the public interest, not for personal gain. The same for being a 28-year police officer. I think stronger restrictions on members of Congress trading individual stocks make sense, and I fully support banning the trading of individual stocks. It’s been a foundation of my campaign since I launched it. There are different ways to go about it, but either requiring assets to be placed in blind trusts or limiting stock trades to diversified mutual and index funds would solve the problem and be fair. Reforming this would allow lawmakers to focus on doing their jobs without questions about conflicts of interest.

Do you support stronger regulations on pollution and carbon emissions? If so, how would you ensure those regulations aren’t overly burdensome on small businesses or lower-income families? And if not, how do you propose lawmakers protect the environment and curtail the impacts of climate change? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

Everyone wants clean air and clean water. The challenge is making sure environmental policies don’t end up punishing hard-working families, small businesses and drive jobs out of California, which has happened. As mayor, I saw how regulations of all sorts can impact local communities. I think the better path is encouraging innovation and cleaner technology while keeping energy affordable. We can protect the environment and grow the economy at the same time if we focus on practical solutions.

President Donald Trump has significantly increased spending for the U.S. Department of Defense. Would you, as a member of Congress, approve additional dollars for the military if the president were to ask for more funding? How would you ensure that any military spending does not end up putting the American people or national security in harm’s way? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

America needs the strongest military in the world. If additional funding strengthens readiness, supports our troops, and helps deter our adversaries, I’d support it. But Congress also has a responsibility to make sure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. That means real oversight and making sure resources are going toward actual critical national security priorities.

Under what specific circumstances do you believe the U.S. should engage in a war? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

War should always be a last resort. The United States should use military force when our national security is directly threatened, when we must defend ourselves or our proven allies, or when vital American interests are at stake. Boots on the ground should always be the last resort. If we send Americans into harm’s way, it needs to be for a clear mission with a realistic strategy for success and the barrier for engaging on the ground should be high.

Do you believe a president should seek congressional approval before engaging in military action overseas? Why, or why not? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

The Constitution gives Congress the authority to declare war, and that’s an important check. Presidents do need the ability to act quickly if the country is under threat; we’ve seen these types of action from Presidents from both parties. I do believe sustained military operations should involve congressional approval. This ensures the American people, through their chosen representatives, have a voice before long-term military commitments are made.

Congress, in theory, is supposed to serve as a check on the president through budgetary, legislative and oversight powers. Do you believe Congress has fulfilled that obligation during the past two administrations, with one being a Democrat and the other a Republican? Why or why not? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

Congress has become incredibly partisan, and too often, oversight is used as a partisan tool instead of a real, thoughtful responsibility. This is not healthy in the long term for our country. My experience with local government is that it is much less partisan. When I served as mayor, accountability didn’t depend on politics; it was part of the job. Congress should approach it the same way. Oversight should be consistent and applied fairly.

Governments around the world are increasingly considering an age ban or other restrictions on social media use among young people, citing mental health and other concerns. Should Congress adopt such restrictions? If so, what specific restrictions do you propose? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

As a parent, I understand why families are worried about the impact social media can have on kids; my wife and I have to deal with this ourselves. I believe protections are important for kids, like better age verification, stronger privacy protections, and more transparency from social media companies. Parents should also have clearer tools to manage what their children see online and we need to make it much harder for predators to target children.

Statistically, violent crime rates in California are on the decline, yet residents still don’t feel safe or at ease in their communities. How do you see your role in Congress in addressing the underlying issues that make Californians feel unsafe in their own neighborhoods? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

After nearly three decades in law enforcement, I know public safety is the government’s first responsibility. People must feel safe in their homes and neighborhoods, and that is a feeling, not just a statistic. In Congress, I’d focus on cracking down on fentanyl trafficking, supporting local law enforcement, and support strengthening penalties for organized crime and repeat offenders.

There are term limits to serve in the California Legislature, but none to serve in Congress. Would you advocate for term limits for House members? Why or why not? If you support term limits, how many years maximum should a House member be allowed to serve? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

Holding elected office should be about service, not a high-paying permanent job. Spending a lifetime in the same office is not what our founding fathers intended, and it’s not the approach I took as a councilmember and mayor. I support term limits, and I think 12 years is plenty; six terms in the House and two terms in the Senate.

What’s a hidden talent you have? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

My secret talent is that I am very handy and can fix most things around the house. For instance, I just taught my son how to change his oil. I’ll carry over this get it done approach to fixing the government.

Orange County Register

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Chuong V. Vo, CA-45 candidate, 2026 primary election questionnaire

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