Sonia Chang-Díaz

Sonia Chang-Díaz
Member of the Massachusetts Senate
from the 2nd Suffolk district
Assumed office
2009
Preceded by Dianne Wilkerson
Personal details
Born (1978-03-31) 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 Costa Rican 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-Diaz was offered free social media marketing and campaign promotions by Boston activist and radio host Amir "M.C. Spice" Shakir.[7] Chang-Díaz won the Democratic nomination.[8] Chang-Díaz won the general election on November 4, 2008 and was sworn into office in January 2009.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "STS-75 Press Kit". NASA. February 1996.
  2. ↑ "Member Profile - Sonia Chang-Diaz". Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  3. ↑ http://soniachangdiaz.com/content/sonia-chang-d-az
  4. ↑ "Chang-Diaz Loaded for 2nd Suffolk"
  5. ↑ "Race and Class Divide Heated State Senate Race"
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ Graham, Keyanna C. (2008-10-21). "MC Spice on the Sonia Chang-Diaz campaign trail". Universal Hub.
  8. ↑ Drake, John C. (2008-09-16). "Chang-Diaz beats Wilkerson in state Senate primary". The Boston Globe.
  9. ↑ 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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