Sonia Chang-Díaz
| Sonia Chang-Díaz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the 2nd Suffolk district | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Dianne Wilkerson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 31, 1978 Boston, Massachusetts |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Alma mater | University of Virginia |
| Occupation | Teacher |
| Website | Campaign website |
Sonia Rosa Chang-Díaz (born March 31, 1978[1]) is an American politician who represents the 2nd Suffolk District in the Massachusetts Senate.[2] She is the first Latina elected to the Massachusetts Senate.[3]
Background
Chang-Díaz has both Chinese and Spanish 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.[4]
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.[5] 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.[6]
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-Díaz won the Democratic nomination.[7] Chang-Díaz won the general election on November 4, 2008 and was sworn into office in January 2009.[8]
References
- ↑ "STS-75 Press Kit". NASA. February 1996.
- ↑ "Member Profile - Sonia Chang-Diaz". Retrieved 2010-11-29.
- ↑ http://soniachangdiaz.com/content/sonia-chang-d-az
- ↑ "Chang-Diaz Loaded for 2nd Suffolk"
- ↑ "Race and Class Divide Heated State Senate Race"
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Drake, John C. (2008-09-16). "Chang-Diaz beats Wilkerson in state Senate primary". The Boston Globe.
- ↑ Slack, Donovan (2008-11-05). "Foe's troubles tinge Chang-Diaz triumph". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
External links
- Sonia Chang-Diaz Web site
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| Massachusetts Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Dianne Wilkerson |
Massachusetts State Senator for 2nd Suffolk District 2009– |
Incumbent |