Mark S. Chang
Mark Soo Chang (born July 9, 1976) is an American politician who has served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 32 since 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, he is currently a candidate in the 2024 election to the U.S. House of Representatives in Maryland's 3rd congressional district.
Mark Chang | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 32nd district | |
| Assumed office January 14, 2015 Serving with J. Sandy Bartlett, Mike Rogers | |
| Preceded by | Mary Ann Love |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mark Soo Chang July 9, 1976 Glen Burnie, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (before 2012) Democratic (since 2012) |
| Education | University of Maryland, Baltimore County (BA) Loyola University Maryland (MBA) |
Early life and education edit
Chang was born on July 9, 1976, in Glen Burnie, Maryland.[1] He was one of three children born to Hak Jin Chang, who was a small business owner during the 1980s and 1990s, and his wife, who worked at Annapolis General Hospital and who died when Chang was eleven years old.[2][3] He is a first-generation Korean-American, with his parents having moved to the United States from South Korea in 1975.[3]
Chang graduated from Glen Burnie High School and later attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and graduated cum laude in 1999. In 2010, Chang attended Loyola University Maryland, where he earned a Master of Business Administration degree.[1]
Political career edit
Chang entered politics in 2003 by becoming a member of the Anne Arundel County Republican Central Committee.[1] In 2006, he ran for the Maryland House of Delegates as a Republican and was defeated in the general election with 17.1 percent of the vote.[4] After his defeat, Chang went to work as a community liaison for Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold. In 2012, he switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democratic.[5] Chang was replaced by County Executive Laura Neuman after she took office following Leopold's corruption conviction and subsequent resignation,[6] and he subsequently worked as a legislative aide to state senator James E. DeGrange Sr.[4]
In 2014, Chang again ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 32, this time as a Democrat. He won the general election in November 2014, becoming the first Korean-American elected to the Maryland General Assembly from Anne Arundel County, and the first in the state alongside state delegate-elect David Moon.[2]
In the legislature edit
Chang was sworn into the House of Delegates on January 14, 2015. He has been a member of the Appropriations Committee during his entire tenure, and became the committee's vice chair in 2021.[1]
On December 5, 2023, Chang announced that he would run for Congress in Maryland's 3rd congressional district, seeking to succeed retiring U.S. Representative John Sarbanes.[7] He was defeated in the Democratic primary election by state senator Sarah Elfreth on May 14, 2024.[8]
Political positions edit
Crime edit
During the 2018 legislative session, Chang introduced legislation to make human trafficking a felony offense.[9]
In March 2021, Chang expressed concern following the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings[10] and later attended and spoke at a rally at the Lincoln Memorial honoring the victims.[11]
Development initiatives edit
During the 2016 legislative session, Chang voted to override Governor Larry Hogan's veto on a bill to provide $2 million toward Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts renovations.[12]
In 2019, Chang introduced legislation to fund developments at the Laurel Park.[13]
Social issues edit
In January 2016, Chang voted against overriding Governor Larry Hogan's veto on a bill restoring voting rights for felons on parole.[14]
During the 2019 legislative session and following incidents involving nooses on school campuses in 2018, Chang introduced a bill that would ban the use of nooses or swastikas to "threaten or intimidate someone".[15] The bill was reintroduced in 2020, during which it passed and became law.[16]
Electoral history edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mark S. Chang | 3,913 | 30.4 | |
| Republican | Terry R. Gilleland Jr. (incumbent) | 2,927 | 22.7 | |
| Republican | Wayne Charles Smith | 2,829 | 21.9 | |
| Republican | Tiger Pimentel | 1,796 | 13.9 | |
| Republican | Robert Middleswarth | 1,426 | 11.1 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Pamela Beidle | 17,964 | 18.6 | |
| Democratic | Mary Ann Love (incumbent) | 17,697 | 18.3 | |
| Democratic | Theodore J. Sophocleus (incumbent) | 17,661 | 18.3 | |
| Republican | Mark S. Chang | 16,569 | 17.1 | |
| Republican | Terry R. Gilleland Jr. (incumbent) | 13,632 | 14.1 | |
| Republican | Wayne Charles Smith | 13,153 | 13.6 | |
| Write-in | 75 | 0.1 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Pamela Beidle (incumbent) | 4,631 | 25.9 | |
| Democratic | Mark S. Chang | 3,910 | 21.8 | |
| Democratic | Theodore J. Sophocleus (incumbent) | 3,232 | 18.0 | |
| Democratic | Tonja McCoy | 2,364 | 13.2 | |
| Democratic | Spencer Dove | 2,357 | 13.2 | |
| Democratic | Steven D. Wyatt | 1,420 | 7.9 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Pamela Beidle (incumbent) | 17,120 | 20.0 | |
| Democratic | Mark S. Chang | 15,904 | 18.6 | |
| Democratic | Theodore J. Sophocleus (incumbent) | 14,995 | 17.5 | |
| Republican | Tim Walters | 13,066 | 15.3 | |
| Republican | Mark Angell | 12,327 | 14.4 | |
| Republican | Joseph Fioravante | 12,012 | 14.0 | |
| Write-in | 85 | 0.1 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mark S. Chang (incumbent) | 24,498 | 20.9 | |
| Democratic | J. Sandy Bartlett | 24,220 | 20.7 | |
| Democratic | Mike Rogers | 23,316 | 19.9 | |
| Republican | Patty Ewing | 16,340 | 13.9 | |
| Republican | Mark E. Bailey | 14,520 | 12.4 | |
| Republican | Tim Walters | 14,158 | 12.1 | |
| Write-in | 150 | 0.1 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mark S. Chang (incumbent) | 21,755 | 22.4 | |
| Democratic | J. Sandy Bartlett (incumbent) | 20,988 | 21.6 | |
| Democratic | Mike Rogers (incumbent) | 20,597 | 21.2 | |
| Republican | Monica L. W. Smearman | 11,384 | 11.7 | |
| Republican | Michael Jette | 11,213 | 11.5 | |
| Republican | Michele Speakman | 11,169 | 11.5 | |
| Write-in | 107 | 0.1 | ||
References edit
- ^ a b c d "Mark S. Chang, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ a b Bottalico, Brandi (November 15, 2014). "For Chang, a journey to State House". The Capital. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ a b Kurtz, Josh (April 24, 2024). "Meet the state lawmakers running for Congress: Del. Mark Chang". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ a b "Mark Chang". The Capital. September 24, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ "Anne Arundel endorsements [Editorial]". The Baltimore Sun. June 18, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ Bourg, Allison (March 27, 2013). "Neuman overhauls county constituent services". The Capital. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ Kurtz, Josh; Ford, William J. (December 5, 2023). "Political Notes: Del. Chang joining congressional race, Trone leads in his own poll, Nick Charles to be sworn in". Maryland Matters. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ Fernandez, Madison; Shepard, Steven (May 14, 2024). "AIPAC-backed Sarah Elfreth wins primary for open Maryland congressional seat". Politico. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ Cook, Chase (January 16, 2018). "Glen Burnie delegate makes case for changing Maryland's human trafficking law". The Capital. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ Wood, Pamela (March 17, 2021). "Maryland governor says he's 'horrified' by Atlanta killings". The Capital. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ Duncan, Ian (March 28, 2021). "Korean groups rally on the Mall to decry racism after deadly attacks in Atlanta". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ Sauers, Elisha (January 20, 2016). "Hogan releases $42B spending plan". The Capital. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ Donovan, Doug; Pacella, Rachael (February 26, 2019). "High stakes at Laurel: As officials ponder Pimlico's future, Stronach focuses on Laurel Park's racing role". The Capital. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ Wiggins, Ovetta (January 20, 2016). "Maryland House overrides three of Gov. Hogan's vetoes". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ Price, Lilly (February 11, 2020). "Parents of Richard Collins III, slain Bowie State student, back bill strengthening Maryland hate crime laws". The Capital. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ "Here's a Look at New State Laws Taking Effect on Oct. 1". Maryland Matters. October 1, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ "Official 2006 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Legislative District 32". Maryland State Board of Elections.
- ^ "Official 2006 Gubernatorial General Election results for Legislative District 32". Maryland State Board of Elections.
- ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
- ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
- ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
- ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.