Hon. Anh “Joseph” Cao is a boundary breaker whose life has been marked by defying expectations time and time again. He was the first Vietnamese American elected to the U.S. Congress, the only nonwhite House Republican of the 111th Congress, and the only House Republican to vote for an early House version of the health care reform bill that led to the Affordable Care Act. It is only fitting that Cao’s journey into politics was anything but conventional.
Cao was only eight years old when his mother put him and two of his seven siblings on a military plane in Saigon, bound for the United States, hoping to save her children as South Vietnam fell to Communist North Vietnam. Their father, a military officer, had been imprisoned by the communists, leaving her with few options but to send her children away. Once in America, Cao moved in with his uncle in Indiana. Out of this tumultuous childhood emerged a deep sense of resilience and courage that would define him.
Cao later moved to Houston before starting at Baylor with plans to become a doctor. However, while at Baylor, Cao began spending time with some priests who would change the trajectory of his life. After graduating with a physics degree, Cao attended a Jesuit seminary with hopes of becoming a Catholic priest. While at seminary, Cao worked with poor, disabled, and marginalized communities all across the world. Through these experiences, he realized one of the best ways to help those on the outskirts of society was through social policy, leading him into a career in politics. He left seminary to pursue a master’s in philosophy at Fordham University and then received his law degree from Loyola University.
Cao first ran unsuccessfully as an independent. It was then that he drew the Republican Party’s attention and ran for the New Orleans area seat in Congress in 2008. The win was beyond unlikely for this seminarian running as a Republican in a heavily Democratic district. But a life riddled with adversity prepared Cao to face any trial without fear. On January 6, 2009, he was sworn in as the first-ever Vietnamese-American congressman.
Cao’s seminary background taught him the value of compromise and teamwork. When he began his role as congressman, his goal was to work beyond party lines to help solve problems, setting him apart in the tense political environment. Because of this conviction, people have struggled to classify Cao as a Republican or a Democrat, as his identity has never been centered around his political affiliation but his convictions as a Jesuit.
Cao began practicing law again in 2010, following his time in Congress, and is currently a partner at the Cao Law Firm. He has extensive experience in immigration law, personal injury litigation, maritime litigation, and business litigation. He and his wife, Hieu (Kate) Hoang, have two daughters.
Cao never expected to find himself among the governing elite, yet his presence was a breath of fresh air to those he encountered. His unconventional path into politics set him apart in Washington, and today, Cao remains a fierce advocate who prioritizes conviction over political gain.
Read more: Catching Up with Cao
Read about the complete 2026 class of Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony honorees in a special edition of Baylor Line Magazine.
