Mark Chang
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 32nd district
Assumed office
January 14, 2015
Preceded byMary Ann Love
Personal details
Born
Mark Soo Chang

(1976-07-09) July 9, 1976
Glen Burnie, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (before 2012)
Democratic (since 2012)
EducationUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore County (BA)
Loyola University Maryland (MBA)

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.

Early life and education

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 died when Chang was eleven years old.[2] He is a first-generation Korean-American.[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

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

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]

Political positions

Crime

During the 2018 legislative session, Chang introduced legislation to make human trafficking a felony offense.[8]

In March 2021, Chang expressed concern following[9] and later attended and spoke at a rally at the Lincoln Memorial honoring the victims of the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings.[10]

Development initiatives

During the 2016 legislative session, Chang voted to overrode Governor Larry Hogan's veto on a bill to provide $2 million toward Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts renovations.[11]

In 2019, Chang introduced legislation to fund developments at the Laurel Park.[12]

Social issues

In January 2016, Chang voted against overriding Governor Larry Hogan's veto on a bill restoring voting rights for felons on parole.[13]

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".[14] The bill was reintroduced in 2020, during which it passed and became law.[15]

Electoral history

Maryland House of Delegates District 32 Republican primary election, 2006[16]
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
Maryland House of Delegates District 32 election, 2006[17]
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
Maryland House of Delegates District 32 Democratic primary election, 2014[18]
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
Maryland House of Delegates District 32 election, 2014[19]
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
Maryland House of Delegates District 32 election, 2018[20]
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
Maryland House of Delegates District 32 election, 2022[21]
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

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Mark S. Chang, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Bottalico, Brandi (November 15, 2014). "For Chang, a journey to State House". The Capital. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  3. ↑ "2018 Asian American Leadership Delegation". U.S.-Japan Council. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Mark Chang". Capital Gazette. September 24, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Anne Arundel endorsements [Editorial]". The Baltimore Sun. June 18, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  6. ↑ Bourg, Allison (March 27, 2013). "Neuman overhauls county constituent services". Capital Gazette. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ Cook, Chase (January 16, 2018). "Glen Burnie delegate makes case for changing Maryland's human trafficking law". Capital Gazette. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  9. ↑ Wood, Pamela (March 17, 2021). "Maryland governor says he's 'horrified' by Atlanta killings". Capital Gazette. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ Sauers, Elisha (January 20, 2016). "Hogan releases $42B spending plan". Capital Gazette. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  12. ↑ 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". Capital Gazette. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  13. ↑ Wiggins, Ovetta (January 20, 2016). "Maryland House overrides three of Gov. Hogan's vetoes". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  14. ↑ Price, Lilly (February 11, 2020). "Parents of Richard Collins III, slain Bowie State student, back bill strengthening Maryland hate crime laws". Capital Gazette. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Here's a Look at New State Laws Taking Effect on Oct. 1". Maryland Matters. October 1, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Official 2006 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Legislative District 32". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  17. ↑ "Official 2006 Gubernatorial General Election results for Legislative District 32". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  18. ↑ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  19. ↑ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  20. ↑ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  21. ↑ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
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