Mark Takano | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2023 | |
| Ranking Member of theHouse Veterans' Affairs Committee | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Mike Bost |
| In office July 8, 2016 – January 3, 2017 Acting | |
| Preceded by | Corrine Brown |
| Succeeded by | Tim Walz |
| Chair of theHouse Veterans' Affairs Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Phil Roe |
| Succeeded by | Mike Bost |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromCalifornia | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Jerry Lewis (redistricted) |
| Constituency | 41st district (2013–2023) 39th district (2023–present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mark Allan Takano (1960-12-10)December 10, 1960 (age 64) Riverside, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (before 1983) Democratic (1983–present) |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) University of California, Riverside (MFA) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
Takano on a bill to aid veterans exposed to toxic substances post-9/11. Recorded March 3, 2022 | |
Mark Allan Takano (/təˈkɑːnoʊ/tə-KAH-noh; born December 10, 1960) is an American politician and academic who has served in theUnited States House of Representatives since 2013, representingCalifornia's 41st congressional district from 2013 to 2023 and the39th congressional district since 2023. A member of theDemocratic Party, Takano became thefirst gay person of Asian descent in Congress upon taking office.
Takano was born in 1960 inRiverside, California.[1] His family wasrelocated and interned from California to a "War Relocation Camp" duringWorld War II.[2] He isSansei, that is, the grandson of people born in Japan who immigrated to the United States.[3] He attendedLa Sierra High School in theAlvord Unified School District, where he graduated as classvaledictorian.[4] In high school, he also participated in theJunior State of America, a national student-run organization centered around debate and civic engagement in young people, and was elected lieutenant governor of the Southern California State.[5] He graduated fromHarvard University with aB.A. in government in 1983[6] and from theUniversity of California, Riverside with an MFA in creative writing for the performing arts in 2010.[7]
Takano taughtBritish literature in public schools for 23 years.[2] He was a member of theRepublican Party through college, then he became a member of theDemocratic Party.[6] In 1990 he was elected to theRiverside Community College Board of Trustees.[8] While on the board, he shepherded a measure that gave college employees domestic partner benefits.[2]
Takano ran for theUnited States House of Representatives inCalifornia's 43rd congressional district. He won a seven-candidate Democratic primary with 29% of the vote.[2][9] RepublicanKen Calvert defeated Takano by 519 votes, 47%–46%.[10][11]
Takano defeated Raven Lopez Workman in the Democratic primary, 70%–30%.[12] During the campaign, Republican State AssemblymanRay Haynesouted Takano, calling him a "homosexual liberal".[13] In the general election, Calvert defeated Takano, 55%–38%.[14][15]
In July 2011, Takano announced he would run for the House in the newly redrawn41st congressional district, established in the redistricting following the2010 United States census.[1] Five candidates ran for the open seat. In the June 2012 open primary, John Tavaglione, a Republican who sat on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors,[16] ranked first with 45% of the votes. Takano ranked second with 37%.[17] In the November general election, Takano defeated Tavaglione, 58%–42%.[18][19] Takano became the first openly gay non-white member of the House.[2][20][21]
For the118th Congress:[22]
AfterCorrine Brown's indictment on July 8, 2016, she temporarily stepped down as ranking member of the Veterans Committee, leaving Takano as acting ranking member until the end of the 114th Congress.[26] When the Democrats took the House majority after the2018 elections, Takano became the chair of the committee.
When RepresentativeBill Cassidy circulated a draft letter opposing an immigration reform bill in 2013, asking for signatures, Takano marked it up in red pen like a high school assignment and gave it an F, with comments like, "exaggeration – avoid hyperbole."[27]
Takano co-chairs theCongressional LGBT Equality Caucus[28] and is a member of theCongressional Progressive Caucus,[29] theCongressional Arts Caucus,[30] theCongressional Asian Pacific American Caucus,[31] theUnited States Congressional International Conservation Caucus,[32]U.S.-Japan Caucus,[33] and the Advanced Energy Storage Caucus.
For his tenure as the chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee in the 116th Congress, Takano earned an "A" grade from the nonpartisan Lugar Center's Congressional Oversight Hearing Index.[34]
As of 2022, Takano has a 100% rating fromNARAL Pro-Choice America and an F grade from theSusan B. Anthony List for his abortion-related voting record.[35][36] He opposed theoverturning ofRoe v. Wade, calling it "offensive and radical".[37]
Takano supported bothimpeachments of Donald Trump.[38]
Takano supportsgun control efforts. In the wake of the2015 San Bernardino attack, he criticized Congress for its inability to pass gun control laws, describing the shooting in San Bernardino as "the cost of inaction."[39]
In March 2024, Takano criticizedIsrael's actions in theGaza war.[40] He is in support of atwo‑state solution.[41]
Takano is a supporter of transgender rights,[42] and was against the passing of H.R. 734: Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.[43] Takano appeared in the filmWhat is a Woman?, being interviewed byMatt Walsh. The interview broached the topic of trans bathroom use, to which Takano responded by defending his belief in transgender identities before abruptly exiting the interview. While exiting, he ignored Walsh's attempts to ask him what a woman is.[44]
Takano endorsedBernie Sanders in the presidentialprimary election,[45] saying Sanders "has a bold vision" and "can get things done".[46] After Sanders dropped out of the primaries, Takano endorsed Democratic nomineeJoe Biden.[47]
On July 20, 2024, Takano called for Joe Biden to withdraw from the2024 United States presidential election.[48]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromCalifornia's 41st congressional district 2013–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Ranking Member of theHouse Veterans' Affairs Committee Acting 2016–2017 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theHouse Veterans' Affairs Committee 2019–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromCalifornia's 39th congressional district 2023–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Ranking Member of theHouse Veterans' Affairs Committee 2023–present | |
| Preceded by | Chair of theCongressional Equality Caucus 2025–present | |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | United States representatives by seniority 116th | Succeeded by |
| People | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
