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 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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 61–62) South Vietnam (present-day Vietnam) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence(s) | Prescott Valley, Arizona, U.S. |
| 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] Nguyen is a member of the Oath Keepers.[2]
Early life and education
editQuang 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
editPrior 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
editNguyen 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
editAmid 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
editIn 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| 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
editNguyen 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
edit- ^ a b c Fischer, Howard (June 26, 2021). "House GOP bill requires lessons on evils of communism". Arizona Capitol Times. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Rodriguez, Diego. "Rep. Quang Nguyen is unfit to lead this crucial legislative committee". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
- ^ Wood, Robert (July 22, 2021). "More than a third of America's millennials approve of communism". The Washington Times. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ a b "Yavapai GOP: 2020 Candidates". Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ Kimbel-Sannit, Arren (August 4, 2020). "In surprise, Quang Nguyen leads crowded House race in LD1". Retrieved August 19, 2021.(subscription required)
- ^ Fox Graham, Christopher (November 3, 2021). "Arizona, Coconino and Yavapai counties post early Election 2020 results". Sedona Red Rock News. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ Martinez, Jennifer; Miller, Bailey (August 11, 2021). "Amid COVID-19 surge, Arizona Republicans call on Gov. Ducey to punish school districts with mask mandates". FOX-10. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ Johnson, Jon (August 12, 2021). "Rep. Nutt is one of a group of legislators calling to withhold federal funding to schools that implement a mask policy". The Gila Herald. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ a b Martin, Glenn (May 22, 2021). "Prescott Talks – Interview with Rep. Quang Nguyen, Arizona, LD-1". Prescott eNews. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ McFall, Caitlin (July 2, 2021). "Arizona GOP legislator, a Vietnamese refugee, rebuts claim white nationalism a bigger threat than communism". FOX News. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ "Arizona bill would require civics lessons from those who fled other other [sic] countries". The Arizona Daily News. June 26, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
- ^ Jones, Neil (June 19, 2022). "New Arizona Law Aims to Require Anti-Communist Civics Education in Arizona High Schools". The Tennessee Star. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
- ^ "House Member: Quang H. Nguyen". Arizona State Legislature. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ Liedl, Jonathan (November 18, 2020). "New Catholic Elected Officials Hope to Lead with Faith". National Catholic Register. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ^ "Meet the Candidate: Quang Nguyen". Center for Arizona Policy. Retrieved August 19, 2021.