Congressional Equality Caucus chair Mark Takano wins reelection

Congressman Mark Takano has handily secured an eighth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating Republican Steve Manos, who ran a long-shot campaign against the incumbent in California’s Democratic-leaning 39th Congressional District.

Takano, who became the first out gay person of color elected to Congress in 2012, is the ranking member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the current chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, formed in 2008 to advance and protect LGBTQ+ rights.

Decision Desk HQ called the race at 11:19 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday night, when Takano led 65 percent to Manos’ 35 percent with 38 percent of ballots counted, based on the projected remaining vote.

Related: Mark Takano is leading the charge for LGBTQ+ representation and equality in Congress for 2024

Takano has been a staunch advocate for veterans, opposing efforts to privatize VA health care and spearheading the 2022 passage of the PACT Act, legislation he authored to provide benefits to service members who have suffered from toxic exposure.

The congressman has also been a defender of LGBTQ+ rights, especially amid President Donald Trump’s continued attacks on transgender service members. In January of this year, he joined Rep. Sarah McBride at a Human Rights Campaign event honoring members of the Armed Forces who had been forced out by the highly litigated decision to eject them from service.

Related: New Congressional Equality Caucus chair Mark Takano vows to defend LGBTQ+ rights in GOP-controlled Congress

“I want to begin by apologizing to our [trans] servicemembers and reiterating that your service and commitment to our nation does not go unnoticed,” Takano said at that event. “I am sorry this administration has chosen to target you for no reason other than cruelty.”

Against a GOP-controlled Congress and a second Trump term, Takano has stood firm. In January 2025, at the start of the 119th Congress, Takano told The Advocate he would work to oppose a flurry of anti-LGBTQ+ Republican bills.

Related: Top House Veterans Affairs leader pledges action after Trump ends LGBTQ+ care network for those who served

“This is our very first major challenge as a caucus,” Takano said. “In the last Congress, I led the opposition to similar bills, and not a single Democrat voted for them. We’re working hard to ensure Democrats and Equality Caucus members stand strong against these culture war tactics.”

Although in the minority, the Equality Caucus has nonetheless proved influential in the 119th Congress, successfully coordinating with Senate colleagues to scuttle the passage of a bill that would have federally banned trans participation in women’s sports and blocking anti-LGBTQ+ riders from GOP voting and appropriations legislation.