Iwen Chu (Chinese :曲怡文;born December 16,1978) is a Taiwanese-American politician who served as a member of the New York State Senate for the 17th district. A Democrat,she is the first Asian American woman to be elected to the state senate. [1] [2] On November 5,2024,Chu lost her re-election bid to Republican Steve Chan. [3] [4]
Chu was born and raised in Taiwan and moved to New York at the age of 27 to pursue a Master of Arts in sociology at Brooklyn College. [5]
Chu previously worked as chief of staff to former Assembly Member Peter Abbate and as a reporter for World Journal . [6]
The newly drawn 17th district includes the Southern Brooklyn communities of South Slope,Windsor Terrace,Kensington,Sunset Park,Borough Park,Dyker Heights,Bensonhurst and Gravesend. [5]
Chu lives with her husband and daughter in Dyker Heights.