Quang Nguyen
American businessman and politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
Quang Nguyen | |
|---|---|
Nguyen in 2022 | |
| Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 1st district | |
| Assumed office January 11, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Steve Pierce |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1962 (age 63–64) South Vietnam (present-day Vietnam) |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | California State University, Long Beach (BA) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Campaign Website Legislature Website |
Nguyen has served as chair of the House Judiciary Committee since 2022.[2]
Early life and education
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
Arizona House of Representatives
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
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
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
| 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
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]