Ling Ling Chang

Ling Ling Chang (born July 24, 1976) is an American politician who formerly served in the California State Senate, representing the 29th district, encompassing parts of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino counties. Prior to being elected to the state Senate, she was a Diamond Bar City Councilwoman and a state Assemblywoman for the 55th district. Chang is a Republican.

Ling Ling Chang
Member of the California State Senate
from the 29th district
In office
June 25, 2018 – November 30, 2020
Preceded byJosh Newman
Succeeded byJosh Newman
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 55th district
In office
December 1, 2014 – November 30, 2016
Preceded byCurt Hagman
Succeeded byPhillip Chen
Personal details
Born
Chang Ling Ling

(1976-07-24) July 24, 1976
Taipei, Taiwan
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAndrew Wong
ResidenceDiamond Bar, California
OccupationPolitician
Websitehttps://chang.cssrc.us/
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese張玲齡
Simplified Chinese张玲龄
Hanyu PinyinZhāng Líng Líng

In 2016, Chang was a candidate for California's 29th State Senate district, losing the general election very narrowly to Democrat Josh Newman. After Newman was recalled by voters in 2018, Chang won a plurality of votes on the recall ballot and became the state Senator for California's 29th district. Chang narrowly lost re-election to Josh Newman in the 2020 election.[1]

Early life and education

Born in Taiwan, Chang and her family emigrated to the United States when she was three years old.[2] She was raised in Diamond Bar and graduated from Diamond Bar High School.[3] She studied biology at UC Riverside but did not graduate.[2][4] She was criticized during her 2014 campaign for claims that she attended Harvard University when she was in fact taking online classes through Harvard Extension School, the university's online extension program which is open to the general public.[5][6]

Career
Chang (right) after taking the oath of office in 2018

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.[7]

California State Assembly
See also: 2014 California State Assembly elections

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.[2] She also proposed bills seeking to cut business regulations.[4]

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 State Senate run
See also: 2016 California State Senate election

Chang was the Republican candidate for California's 29th State Senate district in the 2016 election. She ran against two Democrats, former Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang and veteran Josh Newman to succeed Bob Huff in 2016 due to term limits.[8]

As of October 2016, Chang had raised more than $4 million.[4] 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.[11]

California's 29th State Senate district election, 2016 [12]
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 State Senate special recall election

On June 5, 2018, Chang won a recall election for the same State Senate seat that she had lost to Josh Newman two years earlier. Newman was targeted for recall by the Republican Party of California in an attempt to break the Democratic super majority in the Senate, though the campaign also emphasized Newman's vote to increase gas and vehicle taxes to fund infrastructure improvements.[13] [14]

2018 California's 29th State Senate district special recall election
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 91,892 58.1
No 66,197 41.9
Total votes 158,089 100.00
2018 California's 29th State Senate district special recall election
Successor of Josh Newman if a majority vote in favor of recall
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ling Ling Chang 50,215 33.8
Democratic Joseph Cho 31,726 21.4
Republican Bruce Whitaker 28,704 19.3
Democratic Josh Ferguson 17,745 12.0
Democratic Kevin Carr 12,713 8.6
Republican George C. Shen 7,442 5.0
Total votes 148,545 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

2020 State Senate election

In 2020 Chang lost the election to serve a full term in the State Senate. She lost the 2020 rematch to Josh Newman by a margin about three times larger than she had lost in 2016.

2020 California's 29th State Senate district election[15][16]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ling Ling Chang (incumbent) 98,687 47.4
Democratic Josh Newman 69,732 33.5
Democratic Joseph Cho 39,643 19.1
Total votes 208,062 100.0
General election
Democratic Josh Newman 214,456 51.3
Republican Ling Ling Chang (incumbent) 203,762 48.7
Total votes 418,218 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

Personal life

Chang is married to Andrew Wong, an attorney.[7]

References
  1. Staggs, Brooke (November 12, 2020). "Democrat Josh Newman declares victory over Republican Ling Ling Chang in 29th Senate District rematch". The Orange County Register. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  2. 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.
  3. "Distinguished Alumni". Diamond Bar High School.
  4. Graham, Jordan (October 27, 2016). "Orange County state senate race could decide balance of power in Sacramento". Orange County Register. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  5. Wisckol, Martin (March 28, 2014). "Biographies are scrutinized in 55th state Assembly District race". The Orange County Register. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  6. "Ling-Ling Chang and her Misleading Resume - California Political Review". California Political Review. 2014-04-05. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
  7. Scauzillo, Steve (November 4, 2014). "Election 2014: Ling-Ling Chang easily wins seat in state Assembly". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  8. Shimura, Tomoya (June 8, 2016). "California 29th Senate District: Ling Ling Chang, Josh Newman to face off". Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  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. "Newman Defeats Chang in Close Senate Race". Rafu Shimpo. December 1, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  12. "California Presidential Primary Election, Tuesday, June 7, 2016: State Senate District 29 - Districtwide Results". California Secretary of State. Archived from the original on 2016-06-08. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  13. Smith, Dakota (June 5, 2018). "California Sen. Josh Newman seems headed for removal from office for supporting higher gas tax". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  14. "Special Recall Election". California Secretary of State. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  15. "Statement of the Vote - State Senators by Districts (odd-numbered districts only)" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  16. "November 3, 2020, General Election-State Senate" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
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