FITCHBURG -- Former Massachusetts State Sen. Dean Tran is raising the stakes in the Massachusetts Third Congressional District.

The first-generation American and Fitchburg Republican announced this week he'll be challenging incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan. 

"Americans and especially Massachusetts residents are being hurt by the Democrats' failed economic policies," Tran said, pointing to skyrocketing rates of inflation, soaring energy prices, and disruptions in consumer supply chains. " Rep. Trahan has proved she will do whatever House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and failed President Joe Biden say. 

"With me, you'll get someone who knows firsthand the promise of this great nation, someone who will put America first, and someone who will never be Speaker Pelosi's personal rubber stamp." 

Tran was born in Vietnam but emigrated to America after his family fled the war-torn country by boat when he was just four years old. After spending two years living in a refugee camp, Tran's family found a temporary home in Clinton, Mass., in 1980 after receiving a sponsorship from a local Catholic priest. 

The Tran family eventually settled in Fitchburg, with Dean later graduating from Brandeis University in 1997. Tran made history in 2005 when he was the first minority elected to Fitchburg City Council. He broke more barriers and became the first Vietnamese American to serve on Beacon Hill when he won a special state Senate election in 2017, running on a platform of low taxes and less government. 

"Having served a third of this district in the state Senate, I've spoken to many people across the district who are hurting, and they all said the same thing: Congresswoman Lori Trahan is part of the problem in Washington," Tran said. "I'm running to give the voters an alternative to the status quo, to big government and the broken promises and fiscal policies of the Washington Democrats. I will give this seat back to the people to amplify their voices, not the voices of President Biden and Speaker Pelosi." 

Tran and his wife Kerry have four children. He serves on the executive board for the Boy Scouts of America and the Mount Wachusett Community College Board of Trustees. 

"My campaign is about giving the people of the Third Congressional District an alternative to the failures of the Biden administration and their enablers like Rep. Trahan," Tran said. "Under her watch, we went from having one of the strongest economies in our nation's history with historically low unemployment rate for minorities and women to record inflation."  

"This seat represents some of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth, yet has never been represented by a minority. I will change that. I am proud to be a living embodiment of the American dream and my promise to the voters is that I will fight for our district like they've never seen." 

To learn more about Dean's campaign for U.S. Congress, visit his website DeanTran.com

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