Takano taught British literature in public schools for 23 years.[2] He was a member of the Republican Party through college, when he became a member of the Democratic Party.[6] In 1990 he was elected to the Riverside Community College Board of Trustees.[8] While on the board, he shepherded a measure that gave college employees domestic partner benefits.[2]
Takano defeated Raven Lopez Workman in the Democratic primary, 70%–30%.[12] During the campaign, Republican State Assemblyman Ray 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 redrawn 41st congressional district, established in the redistricting following the 2010 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]
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.[25] When the Democrats took the House majority after the 2018 elections, Takano became the chair of the committee.
Tenure
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."[26]
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.[33]
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."[38]
Takano endorsed Bernie Sanders in the presidential primary election,[40] saying Sanders "has a bold vision" and "can get things done".[41] After Sanders dropped out of the primaries, Takano endorsed Democratic nominee Joe Biden.[42]
Transgender rights
Takano is a supporter of transgender rights,[43] and was against the passing of H.R. 734: Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.[44] 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.[45]
^"Members". LGBT Equality Caucus. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
^"Caucus Members". Congressional Progressive Caucus. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
^"Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
^"Members". Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
^"Our Members". U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
^"Members". U.S. – Japan Caucus. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
