Alex Lee (politician)

Alex Tinming Lee (Chinese: 李天明; born July 11, 1995)[1] is an American politician who is a member of the California State Assembly from the 25th district.

For other people named Alex Lee, see Alex Lee (disambiguation).
Alex Lee
Chinese: 李天明
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 25th district
Assumed office
December 7, 2020
Preceded byKansen Chu
Personal details
Born (1995-07-11) July 11, 1995
San Jose, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of California, Davis (BA)

Early life and education

Alex Tinming Lee was born in San Jose, California to immigrant parents from Hong Kong.[2][3][4] His father is an engineer,[3] and his mother is a nurse.[5] After his parents divorced, Alex Lee lived alternately with his father in Milpitas and his mother in North San Jose.[6] He graduated from Milpitas High School in 2013, then became interested in filmmaking, and eventually decided to pursue a dual degree in political science and communications at University of California, Davis.[7] Lee ran for a seat on the student senate at UC Davis in 2014 and served as student body president in 2016.[8]

Political career

While attending college, Lee was an intern for several politicians including Mike Honda, Ed Chau, Evan Low, Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, and Kansen Chu.[9] He began working for Henry Stern as a full time legislative aide upon graduating from UC Davis in 2017 and leaving Low's office.[6] Lee began campaigning for California's 25th State Assembly district in June 2019,[10] a seat left open by Chu.[11] Prior to running for office, Lee delivered food, and lived with his mother due to the high cost of living in his district.[12][13]

In March 2020, Lee finished second in a field of nine candidates in the non-partisan primary election by splitting the vote with seven other members of the Democratic Party.[14][15] He was endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America.[16][17] In the general election, Lee easily defeated the Republican Party candidate who had finished ahead of him in the primary, Bob Brunton.[14] Upon taking his seat in the California State Assembly on December 7, 2020,[9][6] Lee became the body's youngest member and the first born in the 1990s, as well as its youngest Asian-American member and its first openly bisexual member.[9]

On his first day in office, Lee introduced a bill that would ban corporate donations to political candidates.[18]

References
  1. "Today's my birthday! I turn 25 years old in my election to represent the CA's 25th Assembly District!! 🥳🥳". Facebook. 11 July 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  2. "Alex Tinming Lee, Born 07/11/1995 in California | CaliforniaBirthIndex.org". www.californiabirthindex.org.
  3. 李, 榮 (6 November 2020). "25歲李天明 當選加州眾議員 史上最年輕". World Journal (in Chinese). Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  4. "Alex Lee". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  5. Hampton, Caleb (11 November 2020). "UCD alum Alex Lee elected to Assembly". Davis Enterprise. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  6. Whiting, Sam (9 November 2020). "At 25, California's youngest state legislator gets running start in San Jose". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  7. Wong, Ashley (11 November 2020). "Asian American man just became California's youngest and first openly bisexual legislator". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  8. Quinn, Kathleen (6 November 2020). "Aggie alumnus Alex Lee wins seat in California State Assembly". The California Aggie. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  9. Geha, Joseph (9 November 2020). "Homegrown Alex Lee, 25, becomes youngest state legislator in decades". Mercury News. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  10. Shapiro, Eric (4 November 2020). "Alex Lee victorious in Assembly District 25 race". Milpitas Beat. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  11. Geha, Joseph (14 February 2020). "Nine hopefuls vie for open Assembly District 25 seat". Mercury News. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  12. Namkung, Victoria (17 November 2020). "Meet California's first Gen Z lawmaker". NBC News. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  13. Geha, Joseph (17 November 2020). "UC Davis grad Alex Lee, 25, becomes youngest state legislator in decades". Daily Democrat. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  14. Gutierrez, Melody (5 November 2020). "This Gen Z gig worker ran for office. Now he's California's youngest legislator". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  15. Thompson, Don (6 November 2020). "California elects 25-year-old lawmaker, youngest in 82 years". Associated Press. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  16. Toledo, Aldo (13 November 2020). "Young Democratic Socialist, progressive candidates sweep into office across Peninsula". The Mercury News. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  17. "Special Newsletter: Election Update". Silicon Valley DSA. 15 November 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  18. Geha, Joseph (17 December 2020). "Bay Area Assemblymember Alex Lee pushing bill to ban corporate donations to candidates". The Mercury News. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
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