Hoon-Yung Hopgood (born December 8, 1974) is a former member of the Michigan State Senate, representing the 6th district (formerly numbered as the 8th district) from 2011 until 2018. He is a Democrat and a former member of the Michigan State House of Representatives. He represented roughly half of the cities which make up the Downriver area of Metro Detroit, as well as other cities in Wayne County. He is the first Korean American to hold state office in Michigan.[1]

Hoon-Yung Hopgood
Member of the Michigan Senate
In office
January 1, 2011 – December 31, 2018
Preceded byRaymond E. Basham
Succeeded byErika Geiss
Constituency8th district (2011–2014)
6th district (2015–2018)
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the 22nd district
In office
January 1, 2003 – December 31, 2008
Preceded byRaymond E. Basham
Succeeded byDouglas A. Geiss
Personal details
Born (1974-12-08) December 8, 1974 (age 50)
Incheon, South Korea
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseSunhwa
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Michigan

Early life

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Hopgood was born in Incheon, South Korea, in 1974, and was adopted in 1976 by Diane Hopgood, former principal at Johnson Elementary in Taylor, Michigan, and the late Rollie Hopgood, who was president of the Michigan Federation of Teachers and School Related Personnel. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan in 1996. In 2002 he became an aide to former State Representative Ray Basham.

Political career

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Hopgood was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2002, representing the 22nd District, which includes the cities of Romulus, Michigan and Taylor. He has become a leader on educational issues in the state. He was a member of the Children's Caucus, a board member of the Michigan Youth in Government, and a member of the House Democratic Task Force on Early Education and Care. He is on the Steering Committee for the Michigan Coalition on Civic Education, and was part of the Michigan delegation to the Congressional Conference on Civic Education in Washington, D.C.

In his final term, Hopgood served on six committees in the House of Representatives: Transportation - Chair, Education, Subcommittee on High School Graduation - Chair, Energy and Technology, Labor, and Senior Health and Retirement.

After serving three terms in the House of Representatives, Hopgood was term limited and was ineligible to serve again.

In 2010 Hopgood was elected to the Michigan Senate, where he served on the Senate Education Committee, Energy and Technology Committee, and Appropriations Committee.[2] He resides in Taylor.

Electoral history

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Michigan Senate District 8 General Election, 2010[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Hoon-Yung Hopgood 37,845 54.9 +18.3
Republican Ken Larkin 25,280 36.6 −18.3
Independent Neil Sawicki 4,697 6.8 −48.1
Libertarian Loel Gnadt 1,093 1.5 −53.4
Michigan House of Representatives District 22 General Election, 2006[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Hoon-Yung Hopgood (Incumbent) 19,260 73.9 +51.4
Republican Ben Armstrong 5,882 22.5 −51.4
Constitution Rick Butkowski 895 3.4 −70.5
Michigan House of Representatives District 22 General Election, 2004[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Hoon-Yung Hopgood (Incumbent) 24,375 69.5 +44.3
Republican Fred Kalsic 8,863 25.2 −44.3
Constitution Rick Butkowski 1,807 5.1 −64.4
Michigan House of Representatives District 22 General Election, 2002[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Hoon-Yung Hopgood 14,042 68.8 +40.9
Republican Ronald Vaughan 5,696 27.9 −40.9
Libertarian Charles Kainz 657 3.2 −65.6

References

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  1. ^ "Michigan Senate Democratic Caucus - Michigan Senate Democrats".
  2. ^ List of Michigan Senate Standing Committees
  3. ^ "2010 Official Michigan General Election Results - 8th District State Senator 4 Year Term (1) Position Files In Wayne County". Archived from the original on 2012-01-03.
  4. ^ "2006 Official Michigan General Election Results - 22nd District State Representative 2 Year Term (1) Position Files In Wayne County". Archived from the original on 2009-12-22.
  5. ^ "2004 Official Michigan General Election Results - 22nd District State Representative 2 Year Term (1) Position Files In Wayne County". Archived from the original on 2011-04-16.
  6. ^ "2002 Official Michigan General Election Results - 22nd District State Representative 2 Year Term (1) Position Files In Wayne County". Archived from the original on 2011-08-21.
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