Apr 29, 2025Sponsored
Equality Act
Summary not yet generated.
DemocratCalifornia · U.S. Representative
Mark
Takano
U.S. Representative for California
In office
13 yrsSince Jan 2013
Next election
2027Re-elected 2021
Age
65Born Dec 10, 1960
Party
Democrat
What they stand for
Takano has spent years focused on a few core fights. Each is tied to bills actually introduced or votes actually cast.
- 01Supports federal nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ individualsTakano has sponsored the Equality Act in multiple Congresses (HR.15), legislation that would establish federal nondiscrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in areas including employment, housing, and public accommodations. The bill has attracted more than 200 cosponsors in both the current and prior introduction.
- 02Sponsors legislation recognizing Korean American military serviceTakano sponsored the Korean American VALOR Act (HR.366), which was enacted into law. The legislation addresses recognition of Korean American veterans' military service and contributions.
- 03Advances civil liberties protections tied to wartime incarceration historyTakano has sponsored both the Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act of 2025 (HR.1439) and the Fred Korematsu Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025 (HR.821), each referencing the legacy of Japanese American civil liberties cases stemming from World War II-era incarceration. Both bills have been reintroduced across multiple Congresses.
- 04Sponsors bills on Department of Veterans Affairs employment and benefitsTakano has sponsored the VA Employee Fairness Act in successive Congresses (HR.9855, HR.3261), addressing employment conditions within the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Survivor Benefits Delivery Improvement Act of 2025 (HR.2278). The VA Employee Fairness Act has attracted between 50 and 199 cosponsors across its iterations.
- 05Supports LGBTQ+ youth protections in schoolsTakano has sponsored H.Res.321, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of the Rise Up for LGBTQI+ Youth in Schools Initiative. The resolution has been reintroduced across multiple Congresses and referred to committee.
Keep scrolling for the record, votes, and contact info
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01 · Background
Who they are, where they came from
Mark Allan Takano has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since January 3, 2013, representing California's 41st congressional district from 2013 to 2023 and the 39th congressional district since 2023. Upon taking office, Takano became the first gay person of Asian descent elected to Congress. He is a member of the Democratic Party and has a background as an academic in addition to his political career. In the House, Takano has sponsored legislation addressing veterans' affairs, civil liberties, and LGBTQ+ policy areas. His sponsored bills include the Korean American VALOR Act (HR.366), which was enacted into law, and the Equality Act (HR.15), a measure addressing nondiscrimination protections that has drawn more than 200 cosponsors across multiple Congresses. He has also sponsored the VA Employee Fairness Act (HR.9855, HR.3261), which concerns employment conditions within the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2025 (HR.1957). On the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, Takano voted against final passage (HR.2670), a vote that placed him outside the majority of his party on that measure.
02 · Recent significant work
What they’ve done lately
Jan 13, 2023Sponsored
Korean American VALOR Act
Summary not yet generated.
Jun 21, 2023Sponsored
Equality Act
Summary not yet generated.
May 7, 2025Sponsored
VA Employee Fairness Act of 2025
Summary not yet generated.
Sep 25, 2024Sponsored
VA Employee Fairness Act of 2024
Summary not yet generated.
03 · What's coming up
Bills they’ll vote on next
Bills that have cleared committee and are heading for a floor vote. See all upcoming votes →
House·HR.1071Reported to floor
No Censors on our Shores Act of 2025
Would bar entry and allow deportation of foreign officials who suppressed U.S. citizens' speech.
House·HR.151Reported to floor
Equal Representation Act of 2025
Would base House seat apportionment on citizen population rather than total population.
House·HR.2071Reported to floor
Save Our Shrimpers Act
Would bar U.S. funds to international institutions financing foreign shrimp operations.
House·HR.2076Reported to floor
Lulu’s Law
Would require the FCC to explicitly authorize wireless emergency alerts for shark attacks.
House·HR.2159Reported to floor
Count the Crimes to Cut Act
Would require public databases listing all federal criminal statutory and regulatory offenses.
04 · Money
Where the campaign funds come from
Takano raised $649K this cycle, with 59.8% from individuals and 39.9% from PACs. Top PAC contributors include American Crystal Sugar Company PAC, TrueDem Leadership Fund, Equality PAC, Resistance PAC, and AFSCME People, along with several labor PACs including United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Active Ballot Club and the Machinists Non Partisan Political League. Itemized contributions made up 76.7% of individual giving. Outside spending in the cycle totaled $77.9K supporting Takano (top spenders Californians for Sacred Sites Protection at $44.1K and National Nurses United for Patient Protection at $33.8K) and $220K opposing him (US Chamber of Commerce at $220K), in independent expenditures separate from contributions to his own campaign.
Total raised · 2026
$649K
Cash on hand
$88K
Spent
$830K
By source
- Individuals$388K · 59.8%
- PACs$259K · 39.9%
- Other$2K · 0.3%
Individual donor mix
Small-donor share (under $200)23.3%
Top PAC contributors
- AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR COMPANY PACFEC ↗$10K
- TRUEDEM LEADERSHIP FUNDFEC ↗$10K
- EQUALITY PACFEC ↗$10K
- RESISTANCE PACFEC ↗$10K
- LA BAMBA PACFEC ↗$10K
- NO VOTE LEFT BEHIND PACFEC ↗$10K
- AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME PEOPLE)FEC ↗$8K
- UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION ACTIVE BALLOT CLUBFEC ↗$5K
- MACHINISTS NON PARTISAN POLITICAL LEAGUE POLITICAL LEAGUE OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MACHINISTSFEC ↗$5K
- ENGINEERS POLITICAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE(EPEC)/INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERSFEC ↗$5K
Top employer concentrations
- KELLER ANDERLE SCOLNICK LLP$7K· 2 donors
- WELLS FARGO$7K· 2 donors
- VETERANS UNITED HOME LOANS$7K· 2 donors
- COLANTUONO, HIGHSMITH & WHATLEY, PC$5K· 2 donors
- TAKENAKA PARTNERS LLC.$5K· 2 donors
Self-reported employer data. Categories like “Retired” and “Not Employed” are excluded — these reflect demographic patterns rather than industry concentrations.
Outside spending · 2012
Supporting Takano
Opposing Takano
- US CHAMBER OF COMMERCEFEC ↗$220K
Independent expenditures from super PACs and other groups, separate from contributions to the candidate’s own campaign. These committees may not coordinate with the campaign.
Every claim on this page links to a public source. We don’t tell you whether Mark Takano is a good or bad official— that’s your call. We just make the facts easy to find.