Mark Takano

Takano was born in 1960 in Riverside, California. His family was relocated and interned from California to a "War Relocation Camp" during World War II.{{cite web|last=Johnson |first=Chris |url=http://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/12/22/takano-on-path-to-make-history-in-calif-race/ |title=Takano on path to make history in Calif. race |publisher=Washington Blade |date=December 22, 2011 |access-date=October 3, 2012}} He is Sansei, that is, the grandson of people born in Japan who immigrated to the United States.Furutani, Warren. [http://www.rafu.com/2012/11/the-warren-report-welcoming-a-new-generation-of-nikkei-leaders/ "Welcoming a New Generation of Nikkei Leaders,"] Rafu Shimpo (Los Angeles). November 23, 2012; retrieved December 2, 2012. He attended La Sierra High School in the Alvord Unified School District, where he graduated as class valedictorian.{{cite web |url=http://www.marktakano.com/about/new |title=Meet Mark | Mark Takano: Teacher for Congress |publisher=Mark Takano |access-date=September 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110011633/http://www.marktakano.com/about/new |archive-date=January 10, 2014 |url-status=dead }} In high school, he also participated in the Junior 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.jsa.org/wp-content/uploads/JSA-notables.doc |title=Notable Alumni of the Junior State of America |publisher=Junior State of America |access-date=28 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303203612/http://www.jsa.org/wp-content/uploads/JSA-notables.doc |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=dead }} He graduated from Harvard University with a B.A. in government in 1983{{cite news |title=Harvard Grad Turns Democrat to Win Votes |publisher=The Harvard Crimson |date=October 21, 1992 |url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1992/10/21/harvard-grad-turns-democrat-to-win/?print=1 |access-date=October 4, 2012}} and from the University of California, Riverside with an MFA in creative writing for the performing arts in 2010.{{cite web |title=Mark Takano, D-Calif. (41st District) |url=http://www.rollcall.com/new-members/mark-takano-d-calif-41.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110064531/http://www.rollcall.com/new-members/mark-takano-d-calif-41.html |archive-date=November 10, 2012 |publisher=Roll Call |date=November 7, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2018}}

Takano taught British literature in public schools for 23 years. He was a member of the Republican Party through college, then he became a member of the Democratic Party. In 1990 he was elected to the Riverside Community College Board of Trustees.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rccd.edu/administration/board/Pages/boardmembers.aspx|title=Board Members|website=www.rccd.edu|access-date=2019-07-12|archive-date=July 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712202419/https://www.rccd.edu/administration/board/Pages/boardmembers.aspx|url-status=dead}} While on the board, he shepherded a measure that gave college employees domestic partner benefits.

{{See also|1992 United States House of Representatives elections in California}}

Takano ran for the United States House of Representatives in California's 43rd congressional district. He won a seven-candidate Democratic primary with 29% of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=360817 |title=CA District 43-D Primary Race – Jun 02, 1992 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=September 6, 2013}} Republican Ken Calvert defeated Takano by 519 votes, 47%–46%.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=27877 |title=CA District 43 Race – Nov 03, 1992 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=September 6, 2013}}{{cite news |title=California House Race Could be a Soap Opera |agency=Associated Press |page=2A |location=Albany, Georgia |date=November 3, 1994 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RRFSAAAAIBAJ&pg=4272,234713&dq=mark-takano&hl=en |access-date=July 14, 2013 }}

{{See also|1994 United States House of Representatives elections in California}}

Takano defeated Raven Lopez Workman in the Democratic primary, 70%–30%.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=747496 |title=CA District 43 – D Primary Race – Jun 07, 1994 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=September 6, 2013}} During the campaign, Republican State Assemblyman Ray Haynes outed Takano, calling him a "homosexual liberal".{{cite web |first=Ben |last=Goad |title=2012 Elections: Takano sees changed political landscape |url=https://www.pe.com/2012/09/21/2012-elections-takano-sees-changed-political-landscape/ |publisher=The Press-Enterprise |date=September 21, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2018}} In the general election, Calvert defeated Takano, 55%–38%.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=28746 |title=CA District 43 Race – Nov 08, 1994 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=September 6, 2013}}{{cite news |first=Patt |last=Morrison |title=Snapshots of life in the Golden State. : In This Sleaziest of Races, Victor Won by a Mudslide |work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 11, 1994 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-11-mn-61200-story.html |access-date=October 3, 2012}}

{{See also|2012 United States House of Representatives elections in California#District 41}}

In July 2011, Takano announced he would run for the House in the newly redrawn 41st congressional district, established in the redistricting following the 2010 United States census.{{cite web |last=Goad |first=Ben |url=http://www.pe.com/local-news/politics/ben-goad-headlines/20110702-congress-takano-will-seek-proposed-riverside-area-seat.ece |title=Congress: Takano will seek proposed Riverside-area seat |publisher=PE.com |date=July 1, 2011 |access-date=October 3, 2012 }}{{dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} 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,{{Cite web|date=2018-12-11|title=Riverside County Supervisors Marion Ashley and John Tavaglione say goodbye|url=https://www.pe.com/riverside-county-supervisors-marion-ashley-and-john-tavaglione-say-goodbye|access-date=2021-03-25|website=Press Enterprise|language=en-US}} ranked first with 45% of the votes. Takano ranked second with 37%.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=740847 |title=CA – District 41 – Open Primary Race – Jun 05, 2012 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=September 6, 2013}} In the November general election, Takano defeated Tavaglione, 58%–42%.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=768463 |title=CA – District 41 Race – Nov 06, 2012 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=September 6, 2013}}{{cite news |last=Goad |first=Ben |title=Congress District 41: Takano has double-digit lead over Tavaglione in nationally watched race |publisher=The Press-Enterprise |date=November 6, 2012 |url=http://www.pe.com/local-news/politics/ben-goad-headlines/20121106-congress-district-41-takano-out-to-early-lead-over-tavaglione-in-nationally-watched-race.ece |access-date=November 7, 2012 |archive-date=November 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110064918/http://www.pe.com/local-news/politics/ben-goad-headlines/20121106-congress-district-41-takano-out-to-early-lead-over-tavaglione-in-nationally-watched-race.ece |url-status=dead }} Takano became the first openly gay non-white member of the House.{{cite web|author=David Crary, AP National Writer |url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Record-number-of-gays-seeking-seats-in-Congress-3912917.php |title=Record number of gays seeking seats in Congress |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=October 3, 2012}}{{cite news |last=Candido |first=Sergio N. |title=Top 5 Gay National Races |publisher=SFGN |date=October 29, 2012 |url=http://www.southfloridagaynews.com/news/politics/7719-top-5-gay-national-races.html |access-date=November 7, 2012}}

For the 118th Congress:{{cite web |title=Mark Takano |url=https://clerk.house.gov/members/T000472 |publisher=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives |access-date=1 May 2023}}

• Committee on Education and the Workforce
• Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development
• Subcommittee on Workforce Protections
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs (Ranking Member)

• Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus{{Cite web|url=https://www.majorityleader.gov/content/hoyer-congratulates-leaders-congressional-lgbtq-equality-caucus-117th-congress|title=Hoyer Congratulates Leaders of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus for the 117th Congress|date=December 18, 2020|website=The Office of Majority Leader Steny Hoyer|access-date=January 25, 2021|archive-date=May 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524011925/https://www.majorityleader.gov/content/hoyer-congratulates-leaders-congressional-lgbtq-equality-caucus-117th-congress|url-status=dead}} (co-chair)
• Congressional Progressive Caucus{{cite web|title=Caucus Members|url=https://progressives.house.gov/caucus-members| publisher=US House of Representatives |access-date=January 3, 2021}}
• Medicare for All Caucus
• Congressional Energy Storage Caucus (co-chair)

After Corrine 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.{{cite news |last1=Horseman |first1=Jeff |title=Congress: Corrine Brown indictment makes Mark Takano ranking Democrat on veterans' affairs committee |url=http://www.pe.com/articles/house-807957-riverside-mark.html |access-date=14 July 2016 |publisher=The Press-Enterprise |date=11 July 2016}} When the Democrats took the House majority after the 2018 elections, Takano became the chair of the committee.

When Representative Bill 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."[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/12/mark-takano-letter-teacher-republicans_n_3582230.html Rep. Mark Takano Corrects Republican Letter, Proves He Will Always Be A Teacher], By Rebecca Klein, Huffington Post, 07/12/2013

Takano co-chairs the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus{{Cite web|url=https://lgbt-cicilline.house.gov/members|title=Members|website=LGBT Equality Caucus|language=en|access-date=2019-03-09|archive-date=March 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331154313/https://lgbt-cicilline.house.gov/members|url-status=dead}} and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus,{{cite web|title=Caucus Members|url=https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=71§iontree=2,71|publisher=Congressional Progressive Caucus|access-date=30 January 2018}} the Congressional Arts Caucus,{{cite web|title=Membership|url=https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|publisher=Congressional Arts Caucus|access-date=21 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120195207/https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|archive-date=January 20, 2019|url-status=dead}} the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus,{{cite web|title=Members|url=https://capac-chu.house.gov/members|publisher=Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus|access-date=17 May 2018}} the United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus,{{cite web|title=Our Members|url=https://royce.house.gov/internationalconservation/members.html|publisher=U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus|access-date=5 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801155201/https://royce.house.gov/internationalconservation/members.html|archive-date=August 1, 2018|url-status=dead}} U.S.-Japan Caucus,{{cite web|title=Members|url=https://usjapancaucus-castro.house.gov/members|publisher=U.S. – Japan Caucus|access-date=9 January 2019}} 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.{{cite web |title=Congressional Oversight Hearing Index |url=https://oversight-index.thelugarcenter.org/ |website=Welcome to the Congressional Oversight Hearing Index |publisher=The Lugar Center |access-date=February 8, 2021 |archive-date=February 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208160632/https://oversight-index.thelugarcenter.org/ |url-status=dead }}

As of 2022, Takano has a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America and an F rating from the Susan B. Anthony List for his abortion-related voting record.{{cite web |title=Congressional Record |url=https://www.prochoiceamerica.org/laws-policy/congressional-record/#2020 |website=NARAL Pro-Choice America |access-date=28 June 2022}}{{cite web |title=Mark Takano |url=https://sbaprolife.org/representative/mark-takano |website=SBA Pro-Life America |access-date=28 June 2022}} He opposed the overturning of Roe v. Wade, calling it "offensive and radical".{{cite web |title=Rep. Takano Statement on the Supreme Court Overturning Roe v. Wade {{!}} U.S. Congressman Mark Takano of California's 41st District |url=https://takano.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-takano-statement-on-the-supreme-court-overturning-roe-v-wade |website=Mark Takano |access-date=28 June 2022 |language=en |date=24 June 2022}}

Takano supported both impeachments of Donald Trump.{{cite news |title=Congressman Mark Takano Calls for Impeachment Proceedings Against President Trump |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/congressman-mark-takano-talks-impeachment_los-angeles/129645/ |access-date=21 November 2020 |work=NBC Los Angeles |date=24 August 2019}}

Takano supports gun control efforts. In the wake of the 2015 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."{{cite news |last1=Broverman |first1=Neal |title=San Bernardino-Area Gay Congressman Blasts 'Inaction' on Gun Control |url=https://www.advocate.com/crime/2015/12/03/san-bernardinos-gay-congressman-blasts-inaction-gun-control |access-date=21 November 2020 |work=Advocate |date=3 December 2015 |language=en}}

In March 2024, Takano criticized Israel's actions in the Gaza war.{{cite web |last1=Kampeas |first1=Ron |title=6 House Dems, back from Israel, accuse Netanyahu of 'utter disregard for Palestinian lives' |url=https://www.jta.org/2024/03/01/politics/6-house-dems-back-from-israel-accuse-netanyahu-of-utter-disregard-for-palestinian-lives |website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=March 2024 }}

Takano endorsed Bernie Sanders in the presidential primary election,{{Cite web |last=Moreno |first=J. Edward |date=2020-03-10 |title=Rep. Mark Takano endorses Sanders |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/486843-rep-takano-endorses-sanders/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}} saying Sanders "has a bold vision" and "can get things done".{{Citation |title=Rep. Mark Takano Endorses Bernie for President | date=March 10, 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTwyagPXPhg |language=en |access-date=2022-12-16}} After Sanders dropped out of the primaries, Takano endorsed Democratic nominee Joe Biden.{{Cite web |title=Rep. Takano Statement on President Joe Biden's First State of the Union Address {{!}} U.S. Congressman Mark Takano of California's 41st District |url=https://takano.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-takano-statement-on-president-joe-bidens-first-state-of-the-union-address |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=takano.house.gov |language=en}}

Takano is a supporter of transgender rights,{{cite web|url=https://www.glsen.org/news/senator-brian-schatz-rep-mark-takano-rep-barbara-lee-lead-glsen-rise-lgbtqi-youth-schools|title=Sen. Schatz, Rep. Takano, Rep. Lee Lead GLSEN Rise Up Resolution|website=GLSEN|date=29 March 2023|accessdate=28 June 2023}} and was against the passing of H.R. 734: Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/lgbtq/3955775-gop-education-committee-chair-i-dont-know-what-a-trans-girl-is/|title=GOP education committee chair: 'I don't know what a trans girl is'|website=The Hill|last=Migdon|first=Brooke|date=17 April 2023|accessdate=28 June 2023}} Takano appeared in the film What is a Woman?, being interviewed by Matt 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/what-is-a-woman-the-trans-film-that-makes-for-harrowing-viewing/|title='What is a woman?': the trans film that makes for harrowing viewing|website=The Spectator|last=Hayton|first=Debbie|date=17 June 2022|accessdate=28 June 2023}}

On July 20, 2024, Takano called for Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 United States presidential election.{{cite news |title=Mark Takano becomes latest Democrat to call on Biden to step aside |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2024/jul/20/biden-democrats-trump-election-race-live-updates?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with:block-669bdc738f083fc6a547a724#block-669bdc738f083fc6a547a724 |website=The Guardian | date=July 20, 2024 |access-date=21 July 2024 | last1=Chao-Fong | first1=Léonie | last2=Aratani | first2=Lauren | last3=Chao-Fong (Now) | first3=Léonie | last4=Aratani (Earlier) | first4=Lauren }}

• List of Asian Americans and Pacific Islands Americans in the United States Congress
• List of LGBT members of the United States Congress

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://takano.house.gov/ Congressman Mark Takano] official U.S. House website
• [https://marktakano.com/ Mark Takano for Congress] campaign website
• {{C-SPAN|2737}}

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Category:1960 births

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