ABOUT DANIEL

Daniel is the son of Vietnamese refugees who came to the United States in 1975 - the end of the Vietnam War - and settled in Camas, Washington. His father worked at the local papermill and his mom would eventually start a Vietnamese food business out of their kitchen to make ends meet. 

Daniel and his wife Katherine now own and operate Bambuza Vietnam Kitchen, built from and inspired by his parents’ love of food and scrappy, entrepreneurial spirit. When Daniel and Katherine founded Bambuza in 2008 on the eve of the most devastating economic downturn the U.S. has seen in recent history, they were taking a risk. Today, you can find Bambuza in the Portland, Seattle, and Salt Lake City Airports. Initially located in the South Waterfront community, Bamubuza serves as a symbol of Daniel’s commitment to Oregon, the state that gave him and his family a chance to be successful, and of his perseverance in the face of adversity. 

That’s exactly where we are as a community, and as a state right now: a crossroads of economic and political uncertainty and home-grown abundance. Daniel knows what it’s like to take on big challenges and come out stronger on the other side. With your support, that’s what he’ll do for Lake Oswego and Southwest Portland–and for our state. 

Daniel was elected to the Lake Oswego City Council in 2018, making him the first person of color elected to serve on City Council. He was first elected to the State Legislature in 2022, and is currently serving his second term. Daniel is Chair of the House Economic Development, Small Business, and Trade Committee and a member of the Joint Committee on Information and Technology Management.