View source for Kansen Chu

{{short description|American politician from California |bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name           = Kansen Chu
|native_name    = {{no bold|朱感生}}
|image          = Kansen chu.jpg
|alt            = Kansen Chu
|caption        = 
|state_assembly = California
|district       = [[California's 25th State Assembly district|25th]]
|term_start     = December 1, 2014
|term_end       = December 7, 2020
|predecessor    = [[Bob Wieckowski]]
|successor      = [[Alex Lee (politician)|Alex Lee]]
|office2        = Member of the [[San Jose City Council]] from District 4
|term_start2    = 2007
|term_end2      = 2014
|predecessor2   = [[Chuck Reed]]
|successor2     = 
|office3 = Member of the [[Berryessa Union School District]] Board of Trustees
|term_start3 = February 10, 2021
|term_end3 =2022
|birth_date     = {{birth date and age|1952|10|27}}
|birth_place    = [[Taipei]], [[Taiwan]]
|death_date     = 
|death_place    = 
|nationality    = [[United States|American]]
|party          = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|spouse         = Daisy Chu
|children       = 2
|residence      = [[San Jose, California]]
|alma_mater     = [[California State University, Northridge]] {{small|([[Master of Science|MS]])}}
|occupation     = [[Computer programming|Computer programmer]], restaurant owner, politician 
}}
'''Kansen Chu''' ({{zh|c=朱感生|p=Zhū Gǎnshēng}} born October 27, 1952) is a Taiwanese-born American politician. A [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], Chu was a member of the [[California State Assembly]] from 2014 to 2020, for the [[California's 25th State Assembly district|25th District]], which encompasses parts of the [[South Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)|South]] and [[East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)|East Bay]] regions of the [[San Francisco Bay Area]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://catechcaucus.legislature.ca.gov/member/assemblymember-kansen-chu |title=Assemblymember Kansen Chu /Legislative Technology & Innovation Caucus |website=catechcaucus.legislature.ca.gov |publisher=[[California State Legislature]] |location=California, U.S. |access-date=2019-04-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323044347/https://catechcaucus.legislature.ca.gov/member/assemblymember-kansen-chu |archive-date=2019-03-23 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://abc7news.com/archive/6147316/ |title=Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Salutes: Kansen Chu /ABC7 San Francisco Archive /abc7news.com |last=Archive |first=ABC7 |website=abc7news.com |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |location=New York, U.S. |access-date=2019-04-18}}</ref>

In 2019, Chu announced that he would not seek reelection for State Assembly in 2020, instead running for the [[Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors]]. He lost to Otto Lee in the general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/santaclara|title=Election 2020 Santa Clara County Election Results |website= [[KQED (TV)|KQED]]|date=December 2020|access-date=August 9, 2021}}</ref>

On February 10, 2021, Chu was appointed to the [[Berryessa Union School District]] Board of Trustees to fill a vacant seat. His current term ends in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.berryessa.k12.ca.us/OUR-DISTRICT/Board-of-Trustees/Board-Member-Information/index.html|publisher=Berryessa Union School District|website=Board Member Information|date=February 11, 2021|title=NOTICE OF BOARD APPOINTMENT|access-date=August 9, 2021}}</ref>

Chu ran for the [[California's 24th State Assembly district|24th Assembly district]] seat in the redrawn [[2022 California State Assembly election|2022 election]], but was defeated in the primary by incumbent [[Alex Lee (politician)|Alex Lee]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://milpitasbeat.com/current-assembly-district-24-candidate-kansen-chu-on-mental-health-in-schools/ | title=Current Assembly District 24 Candidate Kansen Chu on mental health in schools | date=20 May 2022 }}</ref>

In the 2024 election, Chu is running for 4th district of the San Jose City Council on which he previously served as councilmember from 2007 to 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://kansenchu.com/meet-kansen/ | title=Meet Kansen Chu}}</ref>

== Early life ==
In 1952, Chu was born in [[Taipei]], Taiwan.

== Education ==
Chu earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from [[National Taipei University of Technology]]. Chu earned a master's degree in Electrical Engineering from [[California State University, Northridge]].<ref name="votesmart_chu"/>

== Career ==
In 1978, Chu became a microdiagnostics microprogrammer at IBM, where he worked for 18 years. In 1989, Chu became an owner of a Chinese restaurant, until 2007.<ref name="votesmart_chu">{{cite web |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/88289/kansen-chu |title=Kansen Chu's Biography |publisher=[[Vote Smart]] |accessdate=November 2, 2020}}</ref>

In 2002, Chu began his political career as a member of [[Berryessa Union School District]] board of education.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pasadenanow.com/main/wu-fredericks-picks-up-another-endorsement/ |title=School Board Candidate Wu Fredericks Picks Up Another Endorsement - Assemblymember Kansen Chu adds his support to school board candidate |website=pasadenanow.com |date=November 2, 2020 |accessdate=November 2, 2020}}</ref>

Prior to being elected to the Assembly in 2014, Chu was a [[San Jose, California|San Jose]] City Councilmember representing District 4. He is a member of the California Asian & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus. He was the first [[Taiwanese-American]] elected to the San Jose City Council.

=== 2000 San Jose City Council===
In 2000, Chu was defeated by [[Chuck Reed]] for the District 4 council seat.

In his first year on the council (2007), Chu initiated landmark legislation to require citywide green building standards, ban the use of plastic bags, and mandate the installation of automatic heart defibrillators across San Jose.

=== 2002 Berryessa Union School Board===
In 2002, Chu was elected to the [[Berryessa, San Jose|Berryessa]] Union School Board.  As a school board member, he championed stronger curricula, better education materials, and improved public access to school board meetings.

Chu has served on the Berryessa Union School Board for 5 years, Santa Clara Valley Metro YMCA, Vietnamese Voluntary Foundation, Shin Shin Education Foundation, and Advisory Board of Californians for Justice.  Kansen has also served on the Santa Clara County Mental Health Board, Private Industry Council under Job Training Partnership Act, Neighborhood Accountability Board of Berryessa, the KNTV Channel 11 Community Board, Asian Law Alliance, and many other advisory commissions and boards.   He continues to serve on the board of Vision New America, dedicated to advancing youth involvement in civics and government.

=== Departing the California Assembly ===
On May 13, 2019, Chu announced that he would be a candidate for the [[Santa Clara County, California|Santa Clara County]] Board of Supervisors in 2020.  He will not be seeking reelection to the Assembly.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sanjoseinside.com/2019/05/15/2-school-trustees-announce-bids-for-kansen-chus-assembly-seat/|title=2 School Trustees Announce Bids for Kansen Chu's Assembly Seat|date=2019-05-15|website=San Jose Inside|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-19}}</ref>

== Election history ==
===2014 California State Assembly ===
{{see also|2014 California State Assembly elections}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = [[California's 25th State Assembly district]] election, 2014
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Kansen Chu
| votes = 16,672
| percentage = 30.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Bob Brunton
| votes = 12,699
| percentage = 23.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Armando Gomez
| votes = 9,218
| percentage = 16.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Teresa Cox
| votes = 9,104
| percentage = 16.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Craig Steckler
| votes = 6,835
| percentage = 12.5
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 54,528
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Kansen Chu
| votes = 57,718
| percentage = 69.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Bob Brunton
| votes = 25,441
| percentage = 30.6
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 83,159
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = California Democratic Party
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2016 California State Assembly ===
{{see also|2016 California State Assembly election}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = [[California's 25th State Assembly district]] election, 2016
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Kansen Chu ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 61,980
| percentage = 75.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Bob Brunton
| votes = 20,146
| percentage = 24.5
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 82,126
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Kansen Chu ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 107,821
| percentage = 72.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Bob Brunton
| votes = 40,280
| percentage = 27.2
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 148,101
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = California Democratic Party
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2018 California State Assembly ===
{{see also|2018 California State Assembly election}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = [[California's 25th State Assembly district]] election, 2018
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Kansen Chu ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 36417
| percentage = 51.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Bob Brunton
| votes = 16391
| percentage = 23.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Carmen Montano
| votes = 15345
| percentage = 21.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Libertarian Party of California
| candidate = Robert Imhoff
| votes = 2127
| percentage = 3.0
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 70280
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Kansen Chu ([[incumbent]])
| votes = 98612
| percentage = 74.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Bob Brunton
| votes = 34193
| percentage = 25.7
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 132805
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = California Democratic Party
}}
{{Election box end}}

== Personal life ==
In 1976, Chu moved to the United States. 
Chu's wife is Daisy Chu. They have two children. Chu and his family live in San Jose, California.<ref name="votesmart_chu"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{cite web|url=http://asmdc.org/members/a25/|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201126043421/https://a25.asmdc.org/|title=Official website for assembly district 25 (archived)|archive-date= 2020-11-26}}
* [http://www.kansenchu.com/ Campaign website]
* [http://www.smartvoter.org/2007/06/05/ca/scl/race/5207/ Chu at smartvoter.org]
* [https://ballotpedia.org/Kansen_Chu Kansen Chu at ballotpedia.org]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chu, Kansen}}
[[Category:Members of the California State Assembly]]
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Taiwanese emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:American politicians of Taiwanese descent]]
[[Category:San Jose City Council members]]
[[Category:California State University, Northridge alumni]]
[[Category:City council members of Asian descent]]
[[Category:California politicians of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:National Taipei University of Technology alumni]]
[[Category:Politicians from Taipei]]
[[Category:Asian American and Pacific Islander state legislators in California]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the California State Legislature]]