Amy Phan West

Amy Phan West was born in Da Nang, Vietnam. West earned an associate degree in business from Orange Coast College and a bachelor's degree in education from California State University at Long Beach. Her career experience includes co-owning an independent rental car consortium. West has been associated with Concerned Woman for America (CWA).[1][2]

Amy Phan West did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Amy Phan West did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

West's campaign website stated the following:

Protect Right to Bear Arms​

“..the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed!” As a constitutional conservative, Amy knows that the 2nd Amendment was created by our founders to ensure Americans could defend themselves and their families. There is no wavering on self-defense and Amy will stand her ground on your right to keep and bear arms.

Secure the Border Now

Amy is a legal immigrant who escaped the Communist regime in Vietnam. After Communists killed her grandfather and burned their house to the ground, her father joined the Americans in fighting against the communists that killed her family and millions more. With her personal experience, Amy knows that a nation without borders is not a nation at all. We must secure our borders. We must protect the rule of law. Border security comes first, then comes an effort to streamline the legal immigration system.

Fix Our Education System

We have an education problem in America with too many government promises without any real solutions. We need to keep education local and allow for more school choice. We must empower parents to make the best decisions for their children. When it comes to higher education, the Bernie Sanders’ free stuff and giveaways is a recipe for more government control over our children’s future. Instead of forcing all kids into college, let’s invest in more trade and vocational schools and make colleges compete for students. I will fight against the DC bureaucrats, union bosses and special interest groups for more choice and more opportunities for our kids.

Protect the Unborn

Amy is unabashedly pro-life. Let’s uphold the sanctity of life by saying stopping your tax dollars from funding abortions and facilities like Planned Parenthood.

Stop Endless Wars

We, the American people, have been dragged into countless foreign conflicts at the behest of the military-industrial complex. These conflicts have been hidden or lied about to us at the expense of American taxes and more importantly lives.

Shrink the Size of The Government

Lower Taxes. Less Regulation. More Jobs. Let’s get the government out of the way and bring prosperity back to California![3]

—Amy Phan West's campaign website (2022)[4]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Amy Phan West. I am running for US Congress in California. I am a proud Vietnamese refugee. My family fled the oppressive communist regime in Vietnam and we came to America legally. I therefore oppose socialism in all its forms and support legal immigration. I am a proud conservative lady that wants to be your Congresswoman and fight for your rights. I love President Trump and will be his biggest ally in Congress once I get elected. He has worked tirelessly to Make America Great Again and I will help him to continue to do this. I am not a career politician and am not backed by big money. I am a wife, mother, small business owner, Commissioner of Personnel Board, Commissioner of OC Parks and a delegate for the CAGOP. I will uphold our Constitution and always protect our right to bear arms. I will always put America and Americans first.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I want to take the lead on closing the illegal immigration loopholes that exist within our current Federal Immigration law structure today. Illegal immigration causes our country to lose hundreds of millions of dollars and California is one of the hardest hit states in this regard. I understand that turning around the economic situation in California is closely associated with the illegal immigration crisis in the state. I am very passionate about tackling the abysmal public education system in California, that is K-12 education. The public-school education in California is one of the worst in the nation and the Democrats have let this go on for too long. I believe that education is a basic human right and is the greatest gift we can give to our children. We cannot let our children be left to fend for themselves in the decaying education system of California. I have concrete plans that will bring a change and make California's education system one of the best in the Nation, like it was in the 1950's and 1960's. I am against the leftist indoctrination of our children in the schools and I will ensure this stops. I also support parental rights in terms of educHomelessness is a blight on California and unfortunately, thanks to the Democrat rule over the past few decades, California is exhibit A in the nation for homelessness. This is an issue that can easily be resolved if the people in charge desire to want to change it. I am determined to change it, if nothing else, to stop California being referred to as the Homelessness capital of the nation.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Immigration, Education, Veterans Affairs, 2nd Amendment, Trade

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan. I would like to follow their example because they were great leaders and changed our country for the better. That is what I aim to do as well.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

One Nation: What can we do to save America's future by Ben Carson.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

An elected official needs to be in touch with his/her voters and work to ensure their interests are met. The person should have integrity and determined to uphold promises that were made to the people before the election. The person should also have great foresight in order to be able to predict long term effects of policies and policy changes.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am passionate about the issues I want to get fixed and will fight hard to achieve them. I have strong Christian and family values and am proud to be an American. I firmly believe in our Constitution and will ensure that it is upheld, along with our rights and freedoms. I have integrity and believe that my responsibility lies in ensuring that the people that elected me have their interests well represented. I am diligent and really do study issues deeply before I form an opinion.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Work to ensure voters' interests are upheld and keep promises that were made. America and Americans need to be prioritized. Long standing issues need to be resolved. Important issues need to be resolved. Elected officials need to uphold our Constitutions and our freedoms.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to be known as somebody that fought for the American people to ensure that their rights and interests were protected. I want to ensure that this country is in a better position when I leave than when I found it. I want to be known as a champion of individual freedoms and capitalism.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Fleeing communist rule in Vietnam and coming to America as refugees with my family. Half of my family was killed by the communist regime there and America embraced us.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I worked as a Barista at Starbucks. Worked there for 3 years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

One Nation: What can we do to save America's future by Ben Carson. I love this book because it highlights an issue that is serious and one we must safeguard against.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

N/A

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Escaping the communist regime and coming to America was a harrowing experience. We were embraced in America but my family and I struggled to make it here. We did not have much and we had to start our lives all over again. We worked very hard to get success and there were many times where we were not sure that we would survive. That was the biggest struggle I have had to endure and it made me a stronger person. I know I have the spirit to fight for the American people.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

It has the power, if utilized correctly, to ensure that a capitalistic and democratic world survives and flourishes inspite of the dangers of tyranny, communism, autocracy, etc.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe there should be a good mix - representatives that have previous experience in government that can provide a mentoring role for the newly elected representatives. Representatives without previous experience bring a fresh perspective and different ideas, both of which are needed since long time representatives risk being part of the establishment and remaining static and stale.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

The rise of socialism is something that concerns me greatly. We also need to take measures to stay ahead of foreign threats that are aiming to displace America and thereby threaten democracy.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

I would like to be part of committees that tackle Immigration Reform, Veterans Affairs, tackles homelessness, addresses Health care and manages Trade policies.

If you are a current representative, why did you join your current committees?

I am not a current representative.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I believe in term limits. A person gets 5 terms for the House, 3 terms for the Senate. 3 terms in the Senate will give a Senator 18 years of service and that is plenty of time for them to make changes for the betterment of their constituency/nation. It also gives time for the next generation of Senators to develop and be ready to take over leadership.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

Yes. I would like to serve as Whip for the party.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Abraham Lincoln - he was a great man and is one of the greatest President's of America and worked for the welfare of America and Americans, which is what I want to do.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I have met with several people from my district and been touched by many of them. Particularly touching was the story of a Veteran who had served in the Vietnam war. Me being a former refugee from Vietnam, this really hit close to my heart. I was very thankful to him for his service to America and truly, for Democracy fighting against the forces of Communism. I was sad to hear about the issues he had to face after he came home, including PTSD and lack of appropriate health care for him. I will do my best to ensure that our Veterans, who sacrificed so much to safeguard our freedoms, are taken care of. We owe this to them as Americans and this is one issue that is very important to me and I will fight for it.