Representative Tram T. Nguyen Democrat - 18th Essex

Representative Tram T. Nguyen (Tram rhymes with mom, "Trawm", and Nguyen sounds like "win")

Tram Nguyen is the State Representative for the 18th Essex District, which includes parts of Andover, Boxford, North Andover, and Tewksbury. She is a first generation Vietnamese-American immigrant and was the first person in her family to graduate from college and law school. She earned a Bachelor's Degree from Tufts University and a Juris Doctor from Northeastern University School of Law.

From the start of her legal career until she took office, Tram worked at Greater Boston Legal Services as a legal aid attorney and advocated for domestic violence survivors, workers, seniors, veterans, and children. She also engaged in legislative advocacy and worked with statewide coalitions, lawmakers, and lawmaking bodies to push for laws that address issues of racial and economic justice and protect the rights of the most vulnerable populations.

Tram was first elected to office in November 2018 and is the first Vietnamese American woman in elected office in the Commonwealth, the first Vietnamese American elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and the highest ranking Asian American woman in the legislature. She served as Co-Chair of the Special Commission on Structural Racism in the Massachusetts Probation Service. Tram is currently Vice Chair of the House Committee on Steering, Policy, and Scheduling, and a member of the House Committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement; the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery; the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government; and the Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion.

As an attorney, she received the Lawrence Bar Association Merit Award, the Vietnamese American Bar Association Public Service Award, the Reginald Heber Smith Award for innovation and excellence in legal advocacy, and the UAW Social Justice Award. As a legislator, she's received the Women's Empowerment Award (2019), Asian American Women's Political Initiative Legislator of the Year Award (2019), YDMA Young Democratic Elected of the Year Award (2020), Council of State Government 20 under 40 Award (2020), NewDEAL Leader (2021), Gabby Giffords Rising Star Award from EMILY's List (Nominee, 2021), Caring Bear Award from the Caring Force of the Providers' Council (2021), Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance Legislator of the Year Award (2022), YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts Tribute to Women Award Recipient (2022), Healing Abuse Working for Change (HAWC) Dale Orlando Award (2023), Women’s Bar Association Emerging Women Leaders in the Law Award (2023), The Holly Taylor Sargent Award for Women's Advancement (2024), Emerge Massachusetts Woman of the Year (2024), and the Asian American Women's Political Initiative's Gamechanger Award (2024).