Ling Ling Chang

Ling Ling Chang
Member of the California State Senate
from the 29th district
Assumed office
June 25, 2018
Preceded by Josh Newman
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 55th district
In office
December 1, 2014 – November 30, 2016
Preceded by Curt Hagman
Succeeded by Phillip Chen
Personal details
Born (1976-07-24) July 24, 1976
Taipei, Taiwan
Nationality American
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Andrew Wong
Residence Diamond Bar, California
Occupation Politician
Website www.LingforSenate.org

Ling Ling Chang (born July 24, 1976) is an American politician who is currently serving in the California State Senate, representing the 29th district, encompassing parts of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino counties. She is a Republican. Prior to being elected to the state legislature, she was a Diamond Bar City Councilwoman. In 2016, Chang was a candidate for California's 29th State Senate district, losing the general election narrowly to Democrat Josh Newman. [1] Chang would later be elected in the same district on a recall ballot for the race to replace Newman if he were recalled over his Gas Tax vote. The election resulted in a recall of Newman with Chang winning the most votes on the second ballot. She previously served in the California State Assembly.[2]

Early life and education

Born in Taiwan, Chang and her family emigrated to the United States when she was three years old.[3] She was raised in Diamond Bar and graduated from Diamond Bar High School.[4] She studied biology at UC Riverside but did not graduate.[3][5] She was criticized during her 2014 campaign for claims that she attended Harvard University when she was in fact taking online classes through the university's online extension program, which is open to the general public. Further controversy over her attending UC Riverside was raised in February 2016, by opponent Sukhee Kang, who made a public request for her to release her academic transcripts.[6][7]

Career

Chang worked at Strategy Insights Group. In 2005, she was elected to the Walnut Valley Water District Board and was then elected twice to the Diamond Bar City Council.[3][8]

California State Assembly

Chang was elected to the California Assembly in the 55th district in 2014 and had five bills signed into law in her first seven months in office.,[3] She also proposed bills seeking to cut business regulations.[5]

California's 55th State Assembly district election, 2014
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ling Ling Chang 13,242 28.7
Democratic Gregg D. Fritchle 12,243 26.5
Republican Phillip Chen 10,659 23.1
Republican Steve Tye 9,987 21.6
Total votes 46,131 100.0
General election
Republican Ling Ling Chang 54,313 63.7
Democratic Gregg D. Fritchle 30,895 36.3
Total votes 85,208 100.0
Republican hold

2016 Senate run

Chang was a candidate for California's 29th State Senate district in the 2016 election. She ran against former Irvine mayor Sukhee Kang and veteran Josh Newman to succeed Bob Huff in 2016 due to term limits.

As of October 2016, Chang had raised more than $4 million.[5] She made public comments distancing herself from Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.[9][10] In November 2016, with 49.6% of the vote, Chang lost the general election to Democrat Josh Newman.

California's 29th State Senate district election, 2016 [11]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ling Ling Chang 73,514 44.0
Democratic Josh Newman 48,754 29.2
Democratic Sukhee Kang 44,766 26.8
Total votes 167,034 100.0
General election
Democratic Josh Newman 160,230 50.4
Republican Ling Ling Chang 157,732 49.6
Total votes 317,962 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

2018 Senate

On June 5, 2018, Newman was recalled from the state Senate in a hotly contested election held during a primary. The campaign was originally launched by the Republican Party of California in an attempt to break the Democratic super majority in the Senate though petitioners to get the recall on the ballot said the recall effort was about a 12 cent gas tax to pay for California infrastructure improvements. Chang won the election on a plurality vote, with a little under 34% of the vote.[12][13]

Personal life

Chang is married to Andrew Wong, an attorney.[8]

References

  1. ↑ GRAHAM, JORDAN. "Josh Newman takes lead in 29th state Senate race, bringing Democrats close to supermajority". Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  2. ↑ "Democrats lose California state senate supermajority after recall vote". Fox News. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 The Editorial Board (October 11, 2016). "Elect Ling Ling Chang to state Senate in 29th District: Endorsement". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Distinguished Alumni". Diamond Bar High School.
  5. 1 2 3 Graham, Jordan (October 27, 2016). "Orange County state senate race could decide balance of power in Sacramento". Orange County Register. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  6. ↑ Wisckol, Martin (March 28, 2014). "Biographies are scrutinized in 55th state Assembly District race". The Orange County Register. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Ling-Ling Chang and her Misleading Resume - California Political Review". California Political Review. 2014-04-05. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
  8. 1 2 Scauzillo, Steve (November 4, 2014). "Election 2014: Ling-Ling Chang easily wins seat in state Assembly". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  9. ↑ Wisckol, Martin (August 19, 2016). "Two local GOP candidates steer clear of Donald Trump". Orange Country Register. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  10. ↑ Williams, Lauren (October 9, 2016). "Some California Republicans call for Trump to resign". Orange County Register. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-06-08. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  12. ↑ "Special Recall Election". California Secretary of State. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  13. ↑ Thompson, Don (5 June 2018). "California lawmaker recalled, stops Democratic supermajority". San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
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