Tri Ta holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California State University, Los Angeles. He began his public service career on the Westminster City Council, eventually becoming the city's first Vietnamese-American mayor in 2012. After reelection in 2018, Ta survived a recall election attempt in April 2020. He transitioned to the California State Assembly in December 2022, where he has focused on securing state funding for community projects and authored various legislative initiatives.

Tri Ta’s political identity is marked by a blend of fiscal conservatism and localized governance, advocating for smaller, more efficient government while fiercely defending small businesses. He champions a middle-class tax cut and holds politicians accountable for excessive spending, yet he simultaneously prioritizes local decision-making over state mandates. Ta’s legislative record reveals a calculated approach, such as opposing the high-speed rail project to reallocate funds to road maintenance, and his stance on homelessness suggests a focus on accountability over broad spending. His unique ideological positioning and policy combinations provoke questions about how he reconciles these seemingly disparate approaches.