Sonia Chang-Díaz

Sonia Rosa Chang-Díaz (born March 31, 1978[2]) is an American politician who represents the 2nd Suffolk District in the Massachusetts Senate.[3] She is a member of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus.[4]

Sonia Chang-Díaz
Member of the Massachusetts Senate
from the 2nd Suffolk district
Assumed office
January 7, 2009[1]
Preceded byDianne Wilkerson
Personal details
Born (1978-03-31) March 31, 1978
Boston, Massachusetts
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceBoston, Massachusetts
Alma materUniversity of Virginia
OccupationTeacher
WebsiteCampaign website

Background

Chang-Díaz has both Costa Rican and Chinese 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.[5]

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.[6] She is married.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9] Chang-Díaz won the Democratic nomination.[10] Chang-Díaz won the general election on November 4, 2008 and was sworn into office in January 2009.[11]

See also

References
  1. https://malegislature.gov/Journal/Senate/186/sj01072009.pdf
  2. "STS-75 Press Kit". NASA. February 1996.
  3. "Member Profile - Sonia Chang-Diaz". Archived from the original on 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  4. "2019-2020 Massachusetts Black & Latino Legislative Caucus". mablacklatinocaucus.com. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  5. "Chang-Diaz Loaded for 2nd Suffolk"
  6. "Race and Class Divide Heated State Senate Race"
  7. Ebbert, Stephanie (1 May 2015), "State senator’s addition in JP incites neighbor’s lawsuit", The Boston Globe, Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  8. 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.
  9. Graham, Keyanna C. (2008-10-21). "MC Spice on the Sonia Chang-Diaz campaign trail". Universal Hub.
  10. Drake, John C. (2008-09-16). "Chang-Diaz beats Wilkerson in state Senate primary". The Boston Globe.
  11. 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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