Sonia Chang-Díaz

Sonia Rosa Chang-Díaz (born March 31, 1978[2]) is an American politician who represents the 2nd Suffolk District in the Massachusetts Senate.[3] She is the first Latina elected to the Massachusetts Senate.[4]

Sonia Chang-Díaz
Member of the Massachusetts Senate
from the 2nd Suffolk district
Assumed office
January 7, 2009[1]
Preceded byDianne Wilkerson
Personal details
Born (1978-03-31) March 31, 1978
Boston, Massachusetts
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceBoston, Massachusetts
Alma materUniversity of Virginia
OccupationTeacher
WebsiteCampaign website

Background

Chang-Díaz has both Costa Rican and Chinese heritage through her father Franklin Chang Díaz, a Costa Rican American physicist and former NASA astronaut. Sonia Chang-Díaz was born shortly after her father earned his Doctor of Science degree from MIT. Chang-Díaz grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, where her mother was a social worker and both her parents were active volunteers in the community.[5]

Before seeking election Chang-Díaz was a teacher in the Lynn school system, a teacher in the Boston Public Schools system and an outreach director for the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center. She lives in Jamaica Plain.[6] She is married.

On January 16, 2014, Chang-Diaz became one of the first elected officials in Massachusetts to endorse Don Berwick for Governor of Massachusetts. She has since served as Chair of Berwick's campaign.[7]

Massachusetts Senate campaigns

In 2006, incumbent state senator Dianne Wilkerson failed to submit nomination papers with enough signatures for certification on the Democratic primary election, requiring her to run a write-in campaign for the party's nomination. Chang-Díaz entered the race as write-in as well, challenging Wilkerson in a minority-majority district covering a number of the inner-city neighborhoods of Boston. Wilkerson won the nomination and was re-elected.

In 2008, Chang-Díaz challenged Wilkerson again for the party's nomination, with both candidates appearing on the ballot. In the September 2008 primary election, Chang-Diaz was offered free social media marketing and campaign promotions by Boston activist and radio host Amir "M.C. Spice" Shakir.[8] Chang-Díaz won the Democratic nomination.[9] Chang-Díaz won the general election on November 4, 2008 and was sworn into office in January 2009.[10]

References
  1. https://malegislature.gov/Journal/Senate/186/sj01072009.pdf
  2. "STS-75 Press Kit". NASA. February 1996.
  3. "Member Profile - Sonia Chang-Diaz". Archived from the original on 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  4. http://soniachangdiaz.com/content/sonia-chang-d-az
  5. "Chang-Diaz Loaded for 2nd Suffolk"
  6. "Race and Class Divide Heated State Senate Race"
  7. Robert Rizzuto (January 16, 2014). "State Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz of Boston endorses Democrat Don Berwick in Massachusetts gubernatorial race". MassLive Politics. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  8. Graham, Keyanna C. (2008-10-21). "MC Spice on the Sonia Chang-Diaz campaign trail". Universal Hub.
  9. Drake, John C. (2008-09-16). "Chang-Diaz beats Wilkerson in state Senate primary". The Boston Globe.
  10. Slack, Donovan (2008-11-05). "Foe's troubles tinge Chang-Diaz triumph". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
Massachusetts Senate
Preceded by
Dianne Wilkerson		 Massachusetts State Senator for 2nd Suffolk District
2009–		 Incumbent
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