Sonia Rosa Chang-Díaz (born March 31, 1978) is an American politician who served in the Massachusetts Senate from the 2nd Suffolk district as a member of the Democratic Party. She was the first Hispanic woman elected to the state senate. She ran for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Massachusetts in the 2022 election.
Chang-Díaz was educated at the University of Virginia. She entered politics while serving as a legislature aide for Massachusetts Senator Cheryl Jacques and as a campaign manager for MassEquality. She attempted to win election to the state senate in the 2006 election as a write-in candidate in the Democratic primary, but lost to incumbent Senator Dianne Wilkerson, who was also running as a write-in candidate. She ran again in the 2008 election and defeated Wilkerson in the primary and general elections.
Massachusetts Senator Dianne Wilkerson failed to file her nomination petition with enough valid signatures to appear on the ballot in the Democratic primary during the 2006 election, but announced that she would run a write-in campaign for the Democratic nomination.[6] Chang-Díaz announced on June 18, 2006, that she would run as a write-in candidate in the primary.[5] Wilkerson defeated Chang-Díaz in the initial primary, but a judge ordered a recount due to write-in votes not being counted in eight precincts.[7] Secretary of State William F. Galvin started an investigation into Boston's handling of elections due to the error.[8] Chang-Díaz turned in enough signatures for a recount of all ten wards.[9] The final recount determined that Wilkerson had won by 767 votes which was more than the initial 141 votes.[10] Wilkerson won reelection in the general election.[11]
Chang-Díaz with supporters at her November 2008 election night celebration
Chang-Díaz ran against Wilkerson in the 2008 Democratic primary and defeated Wilkerson.[12][13] A recount was conducted and maintained Chang-Díaz's victory.[14] Wilkerson launched a write-in campaign in the general election, but withdrew after she was arrested on charges of public corruption and Chang-Díaz defeated Wilkerson and independent candidate William Theodore Leonard in the general election.[15][16][17] She was the first Hispanic woman elected to the Massachusetts Senate.[18]
She won reelection without opposition in the 2010, 2012, 2016, 2018, and 2020 elections.[19][20][21][22][23] She defeated Republican nominee David James Wyatt in the 2014 election.[24]
Chang-Díaz announced on June 23, 2021, that she would seek the Democratic nomination in the 2022 gubernatorial election, but ended her campaign on June 23, 2022, although she remained on the ballot.[33][34]
Political positions
Chang-Díaz was critical of legislation passed by the Massachusetts Senate which targeted the ability of undocumented immigrants to obtain services from the state including Medicaid and public housing.[35] She opposed casinos stating that they were "a fancy way of putting a tax on the poor."[36] Chang-Díaz supported raising the income tax to increase education funding.[37]
She sponsored legislation to include transgender people in Massachusetts's anti-discrimination laws in 2011.[38] She supported legislation which allowed people to use gendered-public places that matched their gender identity and gave protections against discrimination for transgender people.[39]
Electoral history
2006 Massachusetts Senate 2nd Suffolk district Democratic primary[40]
2010 Massachusetts Senate 2nd Suffolk district Democratic primary[41]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Sonia Chang-Díaz (incumbent)
10,022
76.06%
+25.51%
Democratic
Hassan A. Williams
3,134
23.78%
+23.78%
Democratic
Write-ins
21
0.16%
+0.08%
Total votes
13,177
100.00%
Blank
1,087
2010 Massachusetts Senate 2nd Suffolk district election[19]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Sonia Chang-Díaz (incumbent)
38,997
98.36%
+6.07%
Independent
Write-ins
650
1.64%
+0.65%
Total votes
39,647
100.00%
Blank
9,127
2012 Massachusetts Senate 2nd Suffolk district Democratic primary[42]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Sonia Chang-Díaz (incumbent)
8,904
83.18%
+7.12%
Democratic
Roy A. Owens
1,773
16.56%
+16.56%
Democratic
Write-ins
28
0.26%
+0.10%
Total votes
10,705
100.00%
Blank
962
2012 Massachusetts Senate 2nd Suffolk district election[20]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Sonia Chang-Díaz (incumbent)
54,886
98.58%
+0.22%
Independent
Write-ins
791
1.42%
−0.22%
Total votes
55,677
100.00%
Blank
12,711
2014 Massachusetts Senate 2nd Suffolk district Democratic primary[43]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Sonia Chang-Díaz (incumbent)
10,900
80.59%
−2.59%
Democratic
Roy A. Owens
2,584
19.10%
+2.54%
Democratic
Write-ins
42
0.31%
+0.05%
Total votes
13,526
100.00%
Blank
2,432
2014 Massachusetts Senate 2nd Suffolk district election[24]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Sonia Chang-Díaz (incumbent)
33,742
89.77%
−8.81%
Republican
David James Wyatt
3,733
9.93%
+9.93%
Independent
Write-ins
114
0.30%
−1.12%
Total votes
37,589
100.00%
Blank
4,648
2016 Massachusetts Senate 2nd Suffolk district Democratic primary[44]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Sonia Chang-Díaz (incumbent)
7,376
79.50%
−1.09%
Democratic
Roy A. Owens
1,859
20.04%
+0.94%
Democratic
Write-ins
43
0.46%
+0.15%
Total votes
9,278
100.00%
Blank
909
2016 Massachusetts Senate 2nd Suffolk district election[21]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Sonia Chang-Díaz (incumbent)
58,705
98.80%
+9.03%
Independent
Write-ins
713
1.20%
+0.90%
Total votes
59,418
100.00%
Blank
12,760
2018 Massachusetts Senate 2nd Suffolk district Democratic primary[45]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Sonia Chang-Díaz (incumbent)
22,783
98.70%
+19.20%
Democratic
Write-ins
300
1.30%
+0.84%
Total votes
23,083
100.00%
Blank
5,413
2018 Massachusetts Senate 2nd Suffolk district election[22]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Sonia Chang-Díaz (incumbent)
50,742
98.87%
+0.07%
Independent
Write-ins
582
1.13%
−0.07%
Total votes
51,324
100.00%
Blank
6,588
2020 Massachusetts Senate 2nd Suffolk district Democratic primary[46]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Sonia Chang-Díaz (incumbent)
33,053
99.16%
+0.46%
Democratic
Write-ins
279
0.84%
−0.46%
Total votes
33,332
100.00%
Blank
5,337
2020 Massachusetts Senate 2nd Suffolk district election[23]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Sonia Chang-Díaz (incumbent)
64,557
98.79%
−0.09%
Independent
Write-ins
794
1.21%
+0.09%
Total votes
65,351
100.00%
Blank
9,383
References
^"Hispanic Heritage Month: Dr. Franklin Chang Diaz". Runnels County Register. October 19, 2020. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021.
^"1996 NASA Press Kit". NASA. February 1, 1996. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021.
^"State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz". The John William Ward Public Service Fellowship. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
^"Chang-Díaz Exploring Run For Governor In 2022". WBUR-FM. March 29, 2021. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021.
^ ab"Chang-Díaz seeks to unseat state senator". The Boston Globe. June 20, 2006. p. 15. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^"To Wilkerson, latest fight just part of quest". The Boston Globe. August 20, 2006. p. 199. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^"8 precincts uncounted in Boston Senate race". The Boston Globe. September 21, 2006. p. 1. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Galvin probing Boston election". The Boston Globe. September 23, 2006. p. 17. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^"2d District recount to include all 10 wards". The Boston Globe. September 29, 2006. p. 19. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Recount confirms Wilkerson victory in Boston Senate race". The Boston Globe. September 30, 2006. p. 15. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Recount affirms Chang-Díaz's primary win". The Boston Globe. September 28, 2008. p. 24. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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^"Chang-Diaz sees no conflict in dual redistricting roles". The Boston Globe. July 10, 2011. p. B5. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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^"State Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz of Boston endorses Democrat Don Berwick in Massachusetts gubernatorial race". MassLive. January 16, 2014. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021.
^"State Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz Endorses Ed Markey for U.S. Senate". Ed Markey. July 24, 2020. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021.
^"Who's Winning the Endorsement Popularity Contest?". Boston. January 30, 2020. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021.
^"Sonia Chang-Diaz says she's running for governor of Massachusetts". Boston Herald. June 23, 2021. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021.
^"Sonia Chang-Diaz ends campaign for Massachusetts governor, leaving Maura Healey as lone Democrat". CBS News. June 23, 2022. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022.
^"Hearing on casino bills a long, heated affair". The Boston Globe. June 9, 2010. p. B5. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Teach-in focuses on economic divide". The Boston Globe. November 14, 2011. p. B9. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Lawmakers urged to pass transgender discrimination bill". The Boston Globe. June 24, 2011. p. B13. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Backers hail new gender rights". The Boston Globe. July 12, 2016. p. B4. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.