Joseph Cao
Ánh Quang "Joseph" Cao (/ɡaʊ/ GOW; Vietnamese: Cao Quang Ánh; born March 13, 1967) is a Vietnamese–American politician who was the U.S. representative for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district from 2009 to 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he is the first Vietnamese American and first native of Vietnam to serve in Congress.
Joseph Cao | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | William J. Jefferson |
| Succeeded by | Cedric Richmond |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Cao Quang Ánh March 13, 1967 Saigon, South Vietnam |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Kate Hoang |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Baylor University (BS) Fordham University (MA) Loyola University New Orleans (JD) |
| Website | House website |
Cao was the only Republican congressman to vote for the draft Obamacare, known as Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, in November 2009.
In April 2011, Cao announced his candidacy for the office of Attorney General of Louisiana, but in September 2011 he pulled out of the race. In December 2015, he announced that he would run for the open U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring fellow Republican David Vitter in 2016. As Cao finished eleventh in the primary, he did not place high enough to advance to the general election.