Recap – Hung Cao: Retired Navy Captain, Special Operator, and Current GOP Senate Candidate for Virginia

Reading Time: 9 Minutes

| By Arrow | October 25, 2024 |

With the U.S. presidential election less than two weeks away, on November 5, 2024, we figured it would be beneficial to provide a short profile recap of a promising individual who may very well be the first U.S. senator of Vietnamese American descent.

His name is Hung Cao. He’s a retired Navy Captain and Special Operator, with a distinguished military career and an equally impressive educational background to boot.

Endorsed by President Donald J. Trump, Cao is the Republican nominee for Virginia and the Commonwealth’s greatest hope of unseating the Democratic incumbent and career politician Tim Kaine. Cao is also Virginia’s best hope of advancing the MAGA (Make America Great Again) / America First agenda, both for the Commonwealth and in Washington.

Background:

Leaving South Vietnam

Hung Cao was born in South Vietnam in the early 1970s, departing shortly afterward in 1975, when Saigon fell to communist North Vietnam.

Immediately after leaving South Vietnam, Cao’s family moved to West Africa, where they lived for about seven years before relocating to the United States. They settled in Annandale, Virginia.

Cao was about 10 years old at the time.

Growing Up in America

Cao’s upbringing in the U.S. was marked by his family’s immigrant experience after arriving from West Africa. As a refugee from South Vietnam, Cao grew up with a strong sense of duty and gratitude for the opportunities his new country provided.

Despite the challenges of adjusting to American life, Cao excelled academically, becoming the first Vietnamese refugee to graduate from Thomas Jefferson High School in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1989.

His determination to give back to his new home country ultimately led him to pursue a career in the military. He pursued his college education before, and then concurrently, with his military service.

Education and Military Service

Cao attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ocean Engineering. His education at the Naval Academy formed part of his path to becoming a Naval officer.

After starting his military career, Cao continued his education, earning a Master’s degree in Applied Physics from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2008. He also completed fellowships at MIT and Harvard while serving in the Navy, blending academic pursuits with his ongoing military responsibilities.

Cao’s military service spanned 25 years in the U.S. Navy, where he rose to the rank of Captain. He served as a Special Operations Officer with a focus on Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and deep-sea diving. These roles required extensive technical expertise and a calm fortitude to handle high-risk operations.

As a Special Operator, Cao served tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia, leading missions to disarm explosives and support elite military operations in dangerous combat zones. His leadership in the Navy’s special operations community earned him numerous awards and recognition for his service. Among other accolades, Cao was known for his courage and commitment to ensuring the safety of his fellow servicemembers.

Beyond his combat assignments, Cao took on important non-combat roles, including managing the Navy’s massive $140 billion budget while serving at the Pentagon. He also worked with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, applying his military experience to enhance national security efforts.

His combination of tactical military expertise, strategic planning, and advanced education made him a highly respected leader in both military and governmental circles​.

Political Involvement

Cao entered the political arena on April 2, 2022, when he launched his campaign for Congress in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District as a Republican.

His campaign focused on key issues, including border security, reducing government spending, combatting Marxism, and more broadly, holding the Biden administration accountable for its disastrous policies both domestically and abroad.

In the general election, Cao received strong support from the Republican base and was endorsed by President Trump. Despite exceeding expectations in the heavily Democratic-leaning district, Cao fell short against Democratic incumbent Jennifer Wexton.

On July 18, 2023, Cao returned to the political fray by announcing his 2024 U.S. Senate campaign, challenging incumbent Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, who is seeking a third term. As reported by the National Review, Cao would “cruise” to the nomination on June 18, 2024, during the Republican primary in Virginia.

This race presents a tougher challenge, as Kaine is a powerful establishment politician whose long political career includes being governor, senator, and Hillary Clinton’s running mate in the 2016 presidential election.

However, if recent political trends are any indication, Virginians, like Americans more broadly, are ready for a change. As voters continue to reject the failed policies, incompetence, and corruption of the Washington establishment, underdogs like Cao are in an excellent position to usher in an era of change that Virginians have been waiting for.

Cao’s Senate campaign is once again focused on key issues, including securing the U.S.-Mexico border, opposing Marxism in the U.S., reducing runaway inflation, combating lawfare and government overreach, and supporting America’s veterans.

Policy Highlights:

Below are a few key highlights of Hung Cao’s policy positions in his bid for the U.S. Senate.

Further information on Cao’s policy positions may be found on his campaign website.

Border Security

Hung Cao strongly advocates for enhanced border security, proposing the construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border to deter illegal immigration and improve national security. Moreover, he emphasizes the need for advanced technology, such as surveillance systems and drones, to monitor the border effectively.

Cao believes that securing the border is essential, not only for public safety but also for the economic stability of the country. He argues that illegal immigration places significant undue strain on resources and services that would otherwise be devoted to American citizens and legal immigrants. His approach reflects a broader commitment to enforcing immigration laws and protecting American sovereignty.

DEI/CRT

Cao is an outspoken opponent of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Critical Race Theory (CRT) ideologies, which he believes promote divisiveness and undermine meritocracy in both education and the workplace. He argues that such policies create an environment of identity politics that distracts from individual capabilities and achievements.

Instead, he advocates for a focus on qualifications and skills rather than race or identity, promoting a return to systems that prioritize merit-based opportunities for all Americans. Cao’s position reflects a broader critique of contemporary Marxist educational and corporate practices that are permeating American society today.

Economy

In terms of economic policy, Hung Cao aims to stimulate growth by reducing government spending and lowering taxes. He believes that excessive regulation stifles entrepreneurship and job creation. As such, he advocates for a streamlined regulatory framework that supports small businesses and innovation.

Cao argues that a robust economy is built on the principles of free enterprise, and he seeks to implement policies that encourage investment and economic development. His approach includes cutting bureaucratic red tape and ensuring that the economic environment is conducive to business growth, ultimately aiming for a prosperous economy that benefits all Americans.

American Democracy

Cao is committed to protecting American democracy, emphasizing the importance of limited government and the preservation of constitutional rights. He advocates for the protection of individual freedoms, such as free speech and the right to bear arms. He has also spoken out about the politically motivated lawfare attacks on President Trump by the Biden-Harris administration and the Washington establishment more broadly.

He argues that an engaged citizenry is essential to a functioning democracy and believes in empowering individuals to participate actively in the political process. His stance reflects a desire to uphold the principles of democracy by ensuring that the government remains accountable to the people.

Veterans

Cao prioritizes veterans’ issues, focusing on improving healthcare access and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). He advocates for reforms to streamline processes and reduce bureaucratic hurdles that veterans face when seeking care.

Cao emphasizes the need for timely and quality healthcare, as well as support for mental health services to address the unique challenges veterans encounter after their service. His commitment to veterans extends to ensuring they receive the benefits and recognition they deserve for their sacrifices, aiming to create a more supportive environment for those who have served in the military.

Recap:

Hung Cao is a retired Navy Captain and Special Operator who could become the first U.S. senator of Vietnamese American descent.

Endorsed by President Donald J. Trump, Cao is the Republican nominee for the Commonwealth of Virginia. His candidacy presents Virginians with a significant opportunity to unseat Democratic incumbent Tim Kaine and advance the MAGA / America First agenda.

He came to the U.S. as a child, becoming a proud and patriotic American that has spent his life giving back to his adopted nation. This is shown through 25 years of decorated military service, and now, through his bid to support President Trump and preserve American democracy through the U.S. Senate.

Cao’s policy positions reflect key common-sense values.

He advocates for enhanced border security, including a wall and advanced technology to combat illegal immigration.

Opposing the Marxist tropes of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Critical Race Theory, Cao emphasizes the principles of American Exceptionalism, which includes meritocracy in education and the workplace.

Economically, Cao seeks to reduce government spending and regulations to foster business growth and combat inflation.

Cao is also committed to protecting American democracy from lawfare and federal overreach, promoting individual freedoms, and prioritizing veterans’ issues, particularly improving healthcare access within the VA system.

For more information on how to vote in Virginia, click here.