Ted Lieu

Ted W. Lieu (born March 29, 1969) is an American attorney, politician and retired military officer who has represented California's 36th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2023.

Lieu was born in 1969 in Taipei, Taiwan.

His family immigrated to the United States when he was three years old, settling in Cleveland, Ohio.

Lieu graduated from Saint Ignatius High School in 1987.

He studied computer science and political science at Stanford University, graduating in 1991 with a double Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degree.

While at Stanford, Lieu was a member of Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity.

He then attended Georgetown University Law Center, where he was editor-in-chief of the Georgetown Law Journal.

He graduated in 1994 with a Juris Doctor degree, magna cum laude.

After law school, Lieu served as a law clerk to Judge Thomas Tang of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 1994 to 1995.

Lieu served on active duty with the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps from 1995 to 1999.

Lieu joined the United States Air Force in 1995 and served four years on active duty as a member of the Judge Advocate General's Corps.

As a military prosecutor and adviser to commanders, he has received various awards and medals for his service, both abroad and locally, including the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.

From 2000 to 2021 he served in the Air Force Reserve Command, and he attained the rank of colonel in 2015.

Lieu served in the Air Force Reserve from 2000 to 2021, and he was promoted to colonel in December 2015.

On March 5, 2002, Lieu was elected to the Torrance City Council alongside Mike Mauno and Pat McIntyre.

On April 9, they were sworn in to replace outgoing members Marcia Cribb, Jack Messerlian, and Dan Walker, who had been elected mayor.

Lieu served until his election to the state assembly, and was succeeded by Rod Guyton via appointment.

From 2005 to 2010 he was a California State Assemblyman, representing the 53rd district, after being elected to fill the seat of deceased Assemblyman Mike Gordon.

Lieu won a September 13, 2005, special election to fill the 53rd Assembly district following the death of incumbent Mike Gordon.

Lieu defeated three Republicans, including physician Mary Jo Ford and fellow Torrance City Councilman Paul Nowatka.

Lieu was reelected in 2006 and again in 2008.

Lieu was chair of the Assembly Rules Committee.

He was a member of the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee, Assembly Judiciary Committee and Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee.

Lieu was also chair of the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus and chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Aerospace.

In 2008, in a surprising turn of events in the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) English language controversy, Lieu and State Senator Leland Yee of San Francisco were able to help rescind the LPGA Tour Commission's suspension-penalty policy for players who failed to learn enough English to speak to sponsors and at award ceremonies.

Both officials publicly challenged the legality and galvanized community attention to the LPGA's policy in August 2008 when it was released, which resulted in revision of the policy by the end of 2008.

Lieu is a strong supporter of expansion of public transit in West Los Angeles, LAX, and the South Bay.

Lieu coauthored a successful bill to bypass environmental quality regulations to build a football stadium in Los Angeles.

The bill was intended to help the efforts of developer Edward P. Roski persuade the National Football League to return to the city, and was controversial among many environmentalists and legislators.

Further controversy ensued when it was announced that Roski had given over $500,000 to political campaigns, including $13,000 to Lieu's.

As an Assemblyman, Lieu authored laws in the areas of public safety, child sex offenders, domestic violence, the environment, education, health care, veterans' issues and transportation.

Some of his legislative actions include the following:

Lieu sought the Democratic nomination in the 2010 California Attorney General election.

He represented the 28th district in the California State Senate from 2011 to 2014, after being elected to fill the seat of deceased Senator Jenny Oropeza.

In 2014 he joined the newly founded Friends of Wales Caucus.

He represented the 33rd congressional district from 2015 to 2023.

The district includes South Bay and Westside regions of Los Angeles, as well as Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, the Palos Verdes Peninsula, and Beach Cities.

Having emigrated from Taiwan at age 3, Lieu is one of 18 members of Congress who are naturalized U.S. citizens.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi appointed Lieu assistant whip of the 115th Congress in 2017.

He has been vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus since 2023.