Lieu, Ted

Ted Lieu represents California's 36th congressional district, which encompasses the South Bay, Westside Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and surrounding coastal communities. First elected to Congress in 2014, he has served continuously in the House since 2015, initially representing the 33rd district before redistricting placed him in the 36th. A naturalized U.S. citizen who emigrated from Taiwan at age three, Lieu holds degrees from Stanford University and a law degree from Georgetown University. Before his congressional career, he served in the California State Senate from 2011 to 2014 and in the State Assembly from 2005 to 2010, as well as on the Torrance City Council.

Lieu brings significant military and legal expertise to his legislative work. He served four years on active duty in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps as a military prosecutor and commander's adviser, earning multiple commendations including the Meritorious Service Medal. He continued serving in the Air Force Reserve until 2021, achieving the rank of colonel. His committee assignments reflect these interests: he serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Committee on the Judiciary, with a focus on courts, intellectual property, artificial intelligence, and the internet.

Within the Democratic caucus, Lieu holds significant influence as vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus since 2023. Previously, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi appointed him assistant whip during the 115th Congress. His legislative agenda spans national security, technology regulation, and criminal justice reform, with over 100 sponsored bills addressing topics ranging from surveillance oversight to artificial intelligence fraud prevention and correctional facility disaster preparedness.