Mark S. Chang

Mark Soo Chang is a first-generation Korean-American[1] and a Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates, currently representing District 32. The district is located within Anne Arundel County.[2][3]

Mark S. Chang
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 32nd district
Assumed office
January 14, 2015
Serving with Pam Beidle (D), Ted Sophocleus (D), J. Sandy Bartlett (D), Mike Rogers (D)
Preceded byMary Ann Love
Personal details
Born
Mark Soo Chang

(1976-07-09) July 9, 1976
Glen Burnie, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (2012–present)
Republican (2003–2012)
Residence(s)Glen Burnie, Maryland, U.S.

Early life and career

Chang was born on July 9, 1976, in Glen Burnie, Maryland.[2] His mother died when he was eleven years old.[4] He attended Glen Burnie High School and later the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where he earned a B.A. degree in psychology and graduated cum laude in 1999. In 2010, he attended Loyola University Maryland, where he earned a M.B.A. degree.[2]

Chang entered politics in 2003 by becoming a member of the Anne Arundel County Republican Central Committee.[2] In 2006, he ran for Maryland House of Delegates as a Republican, winning the primary with 30.4 percent of the vote.[5] He was defeated in the general election, only receiving 17.1 percent of the vote.[6] After the 2006 race, Chang went to work as a community liaison for former Anne Arundel County executive John R. Leopold. In 2012, Chang switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat.[7] After Leopold was convicted of abusing his office and resigned in February 2013, county executive Laura Neuman replaced Chang in March.[8] Afterwards, Chang worked as a legislative aide to state senator James E. DeGrange, Sr.[2]

On February 24, 2014, Chang filed to run for state delegate in District 32 as a Democrat,[9] seeking to succeed Mary Ann Love. He won 21.8 percent of the vote in the primary election,[10] and won the general election on November 4, 2014, with 18.6 percent of the vote,[11] becoming the first Korean-American elected to the Maryland House of Delegates alongside state delegate David Moon.[4]

In the legislature

Chang was sworn into the House of Delegates on January 14, 2015.[2]

In March 2019, Chang introduced a bill that would prohibit placement of items or symbols on property to intimidate specific groups of people. The bill would pass the Maryland House of Delegates by a vote of 136–2,[12] but did not receive a vote in the state Senate.[13] The bill was reintroduced and passed in the House of Delegates by a vote of 133–4 and in the state Senate by a unanimous vote.[14] Governor Larry Hogan signed the bill into law, and it went into effect on October 1, 2020.[15]

Committee assignments
  • Appropriations Committee, 2021–present (member, 2015–present; chair, capital budget subcommittee, 2020, vice-chair, 2019, 2021–present; member, oversight committee on personnel, 2015–2018; oversight committee on pensions, 2019–present; vice-chair, public safety & administration subcommittee, 2019, member, 2015–2019; education & economic development subcommittee, 2020–present)
  • Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee, 2019–present
  • Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, 2021–present
  • Study Group on Economic Stability, 2021–present
  • State Park Investment Commission, 2021–present
  • Joint Committee on Fair Practices and State Personnel Oversight, 2018
  • Joint Audit Committee, 2019

Other memberships
  • Chair, Capital Budget Subcommittee, Anne Arundel County Delegation, 2016–present (member, capital bond subcommittee, 2015; alcohol subcommittee, 2016–2017)
  • 2nd Vice-Chair, Maryland Legislative Asian-American and Pacific-Islander Caucus, 2019–present (member, 2015–present; chair, outreach committee, 2021–present)
  • Maryland Military Installation Legislative Caucus, 2017–present

Electoral history
Maryland House of Delegates 32nd District Republican Primary Election, 2006[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark S. Chang 3,913 30
Republican Terry R. Gilleland, Jr. 2,927 23
Republican Wayne Charles Smith 2,829 22
Republican Tiger Pimentel 1,796 14
Republican Robert Middleswarth 1,426 11
Maryland House of Delegates 32nd District General Election, 2006[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Pamela Beidle 17,964 19
Democratic Mary Ann Love 17,697 18
Democratic Theodore Sophocleus 17,661 18
Republican Mark S. Chang 16,569 17
Republican Terry R. Gilleland, Jr. 13,632 14
Republican Wayne Charles Smith 13,153 14
Other/Write-in Other/Write-in 75 0
Maryland House of Delegates 32nd District Democratic Primary Election, 2014[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Pamela Beidle 4,631 26
Democratic Mark S. Chang 3,910 22
Democratic Theodore J. Sophocleus 3,232 18
Democratic Tonja McCoy 2,364 13
Democratic Spencer Dove 2,357 13
Democratic Steven D. Wyatt 1,420 8
Maryland House of Delegates 32nd District General Election, 2014[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Pamela Beidle 17,120 20
Democratic Mark S. Chang 15,904 19
Democratic Theodore J. Sophocleus 14,995 18
Republican Tim Walters 13,066 15
Republican Mark Angell 12,327 14
Republican Joseph Fioravante 12,012 14
Other/Write-in Other/Write-in 85 0
Maryland House of Delegates 32nd District Democratic Primary Election, 2018[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mark S. Chang 4,591 22
Democratic J. Sandy Bartlett 4,200 20
Democratic Mike Rogers 3,795 18
Democratic Jenese Jones 2,639 13
Democratic Patrick Armstrong 1,939 9
Democratic Theodore Sophocleus 1,863 9
Democratic Derek Kent 1,583 8
Maryland House of Delegates 32nd District General Election, 2018[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mark S. Chang 24,498 21
Democratic J. Sandy Bartlett 24,220 21
Democratic Mike Rogers 23,316 20
Republican Patty Ewing 16,340 14
Republican Mark E. Bailey 14,520 12
Republican Tim Walters 14,158 12
Other/Write-in Other/Write-in 112 0
Republican (write-in) Sandra Lee German 38 0

References
  1. "2018 Asian American Leadership Delegation". U.S.-Japan Council. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  2. "Mark S. Chang, Maryland State Delegate". msa.maryland.gov.
  3. "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Mark S. Chang". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  4. Bottalico, Brandi (November 15, 2014). "For Chang, a journey to State House". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  5. "Official 2006 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  6. "Official 2006 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  7. "Anne Arundel endorsements [Editorial]". The Baltimore Sun. June 18, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  8. "Mark Chang". Capital Gazette. September 24, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  9. "2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election State Candidates List". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  10. "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  11. "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  12. Cook, Chase (March 1, 2019). "Maryland House passes hate crime bill, moves to Senate". Capital Gazette. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  13. "Legislation - HB0004". Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  14. "Legislation - HB0005". Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  15. "Here's a Look at New State Laws Taking Effect on Oct. 1". Maryland Matters. October 1, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  16. "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  17. "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
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