Quang Nguyen
Quang Nguyen | |
|---|---|
| File:Quang Nguyen by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg | |
| Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 1st district | |
| Assumed office January 11, 2021 Serving with Selina Bliss | |
| Preceded by | Steve Pierce |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1962 (age 63–64) South Vietnam (present-day Vietnam) |
| Party | Republican |
| Residence(s) | Prescott Valley, Arizona, U.S. |
| Education | California State University, Long Beach (BA) |
| Signature | File:Quang Nguyen Signature.png |
| Website | Campaign Website Legislature Website |
Quang H. Nguyen (born 1962)[1] is a Vietnamese-American businessman and politician serving as a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives for District 1 since 2021. The district includes most of Yavapai County and some of Maricopa County.
Nguyen has served as chair of the House Judiciary Committee since 2022.[2] Nguyen is a member of the Oath Keepers.[2]
Early life and education
[edit | edit source]Quang Nguyen was born in South Vietnam in 1962 and left at 12 years old after the fall of Saigon.[1][3] Nguyen graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a bachelor's degree in technology education.[4]
Early career
[edit | edit source]Prior to becoming an elected official, Nguyen founded marketing firm Caddis Advertising. He was also active in public speaking and conservative causes.[4] He is a member of the Oath Keepers, a far-right organization.[2]
Arizona House of Representatives
[edit | edit source]Nguyen first ran for Arizona House of Representatives in District 1 in 2020. He placed first in a crowded Republican primary with 30.4% of the total vote.[5] Along with Judy Burges, he won the general election and defeated Democrat Judy Stahl.[6] Nguyen was reelected in 2022.
Tenure
[edit | edit source]Amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Arizona, Nguyen signed onto a letter urging Governor Doug Ducey to punish school districts that enforce a mask mandate on students.[7][8]
Nguyen is anti-abortion, anti-vaccine card, and supports tax cuts.[9] He strongly opposes communism, citing his experience living in Saigon during the Vietnam War.[10] In November 2021, he sponsored House Bill (HB) 2008 that would require the Arizona State Board of Education to update high school civics curriculum to include anti-communist narratives from people who, like Nguyen, fled communist countries.[1][11] On its initial third hearing, the legislation failed to pass the Senate floor, but on reconsideration, it passed with 16 ayes and 12 nays. Ducey signed it into law on June 17, 2022.[12]
Following his reelection in 2022, Quang was appointed chair of the House Judiciary Committee.[2]
Committee assignments
[edit | edit source]In the fifty-fifth Legislature session (2021-2023), Nguyen served on the following committees[13][needs update]
- Military Affairs and Public Safety (Vice-chairman)
- Appropriations
- Education
- Judiciary
Electoral history
[edit | edit source]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Judy Burges | 92,058 | 40.8% | |
| Republican | Quang Nguyen | 86,405 | 38.3% | |
| Democratic | Judy Stahl | 47,204 | 20.9% | |
| Total votes | 225,667 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Quang Nguyen (incumbent) | 75,106 | 33.18 | |
| Republican | Selina Bliss | 74,731 | 33.01 | |
| Democratic | Cathy Ransom | 39,665 | 17.52 | |
| Democratic | Neil Sinclair | 36,867 | 16.29 | |
| Total votes | 226,369 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
Personal life
[edit | edit source]Nguyen is Catholic.[14] He lives in Prescott Valley with his wife Mai, a registered nurse.[15] Their daughter is in the United States Navy.[9]
References
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External links
[edit | edit source]
- American politicians of Vietnamese descent
- Republican Party members of the Arizona House of Representatives
- 1962 births
- Living people
- California State University, Long Beach alumni
- Asian-American state legislators in Arizona
- Catholics from Arizona
- Vietnamese anti-communists
- Asian conservatism in the United States
- 21st-century members of the Arizona State Legislature