Chao Wu (politician)

Chao Wu (born 1976/1977)^[1] is an American politician. He is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for District 9A in Howard and Montgomery counties. He was previously a member of the Howard County Board of Education from 2018 to 2022.

Chao Wu
Wu in 2023
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 9A district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 11, 2023 Serving with Natalie Ziegler
Preceded by	Trent Kittleman
Member of the Howard County Board of Education at-large
In office December 3, 2018 – December 5, 2022
Preceded by	Bess Altwerger Sandra French Christine O'Connor Cynthia Vaillancourt
Succeeded by	Jacky McCoy Linfeng Chen
Personal details
Born	1976 or 1977 (age 46–47) Yingshan County, Hubei, China
Political party	Democratic
Children	2
Residence	Clarksville, Maryland
Education	University of Science and Technology of China (BE) National University of Singapore (ME) University of Maryland, College Park (PhD)
Profession	Engineer, data scientist
Website	Campaign website

Background

Wu attended the University of Science and Technology of China, where he earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree in 2001; the National University of Singapore, where he earned a master degree in electrical and computer engineering in 2003;^[2] and the University of Maryland, College Park, receiving a Doctor of Philosophy degree in electrical and computer engineering in 2009.^[3][4] While at the University of Maryland, Wu served as president of the local Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) chapter.^[5] As CSSA president, Wu campaigned against Tibetan independence and perceived biased content in The Diamondback towards the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.^[5]

After graduating, Wu worked in the private and public sectors, specializing in data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity and enterprise risk management.^[4] Wu represented the River Hill community of Columbia, Maryland on the Columbia Association's board of directors until 2018,^[6] and served as a board member of the River Hill Village Association from 2012 to 2018.^[7] During this time, Wu was instrumental in initiating Columbia's sister city agreement with Liyang.^[5][8]

In November 2017 Wu filed to run for the Howard County Board of Education.^[7] He won the nonpartisan primary election on June 27, 2018,^[9] and later won election to the board on November 6.^[3] In December 2020, Wu was elected as the Board of Education's chairperson, becoming the first Asian American to lead the board.^[10] In October 2021, Wu was named to serve as a board member to the Maryland Association of Boards of Education.^[11]

In February 2022 Wu filed to run for the Maryland House of Delegates.^[12] He won the Democratic primary on July 19, 2022, and later won the general election on November 8, narrowly defeating incumbent state delegate Trent Kittleman with Natalie Ziegler.^[13]

In the legislature

Wu in the Ways and Means Committee, 2024

Wu was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 11, 2023.^[14] He is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.^[15]

Personal life

Wu lives in Clarksville, Maryland.^[12] He is a father of two children.^[16]

Political positions

In June 2021 Wu voted against ending the school system's school resource officer program. The school board voted 5–3 to continue the program.^[17]

Electoral history

Howard County Board of Education primary election, 2018^[18]

Candidate		Votes	%
Vicky Cutroneo		20,602	14.1
Bob Glascock		17,503	12.0
Robert Wayne Miller		16,469	11.3
Chao Wu		15,600	10.7
Jen Mallo		13,545	9.3
Sabina Taj		13,326	9.2
Anita Pandey		10,041	6.9
Danny Mackey		9,980	6.9
Carleen Pena		8,301	5.7
Saif Rehman		7,582	5.2
Mavourene Robinson		5,828	4.0
Timothy Hodgson Hamilton		3,691	2.5
Christopher Michael Hilfiger		3,171	2.2

Howard County Board of Education general election, 2018^[19]

Candidate		Votes	%
Vicky Cutroneo		58,426	15.1
Chao Wu		54,254	14.1
Jen Mallo		53,766	13.9
Sabina Taj		51,842	13.4
Bob Glascock		46,929	12.2
Robert Wayne Miller		43,847	11.4
Anita Pandey		38,109	9.9
Danny Mackey		36,923	9.6
Write-in		1,685	0.4

Maryland House of Delegates District 9A Democratic primary election, 2022^[20]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Natalie Ziegler	5,308	41.8
	Democratic	Chao Wu	3,942	31.0
	Democratic	Steven M. Bolen	3,448	27.2

Maryland House of Delegates District 9A general election, 2022^[21]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Natalie Ziegler	17,767	26.68
	Democratic	Chao Wu	17,486	26.43
	Republican	Trent Kittleman (incumbent)	17,373	26.26
	Republican	Jianning Zeng	13,609	20.56
	Write-in		44	0.07

References

1. Ehrenhaft, Ethan (December 1, 2022). "As Vicky Cutroneo and Chao Wu end terms on Howard school board, they say last four years were challenging and rewarding". Howard County Times. Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
2. "Members – Delegate Chao Wu". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. January 11, 2023. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
3. "Alum Chao Wu wins public office in Howard County". ece.umd.edu. University of Maryland, College Park. December 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
4. "Q&A Series – Next Generation Leaders: Dr. Chao Wu". Committee of 100. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
5. Hamilton, Clive; Ohlberg, Mareike (September 3, 2020). "Political elites on the periphery". Hidden Hand: Exposing How the Chinese Communist Party is Reshaping the World. Simon and Schuster. pp. 93. ISBN 978-1-78607-784-4. OCLC 1150166864.
6. Greisman, David (April 9, 2012). "Few contested races in upcoming CA board, village elections". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
7. Michaels, Andrew (November 6, 2017). "Candidates eyeing Howard Board of Education seats in 2018". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
8. Holzberg, Janene (June 15, 2018). "Columbia poised to add China's Liyang as sister city". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023. Han's attention focused on Columbia after she was introduced to Chao Wu, a Chinese-American who is a member of the Columbia Association village board, is running for a seat on the Howard County Board of Education and writes a blog about Columbia. He is serving as a vice chair on the Liyang Sister City Committee.
9. Nocera, Jess (June 27, 2018). "Eight Howard County school board candidates advance". Howard County Times. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
10. Meyer, Jacob Calvin (December 7, 2020). "After swearing in of new members, Chao Wu becomes first Asian American to serve as Howard school board chair". Howard County Times. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
11. Shwe, Elizabeth (October 15, 2021). "Virginia McGraw Named New Maryland Association of Boards of Education President". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
12. Haynes, Allana (March 1, 2022). "Three candidates running for two seats on Howard County school board". Howard County Times. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
13. Bixby, Ginny (November 23, 2022). "Ziegler, Wu declare victory in tight District 9A House of Delegates race". Bethesda Magazine. Archived from the original on November 23, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
14. "Chao Wu, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. January 19, 2023. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
15. Gaines, Danielle E. (January 5, 2023). "Jones announces new Democratic caucus, committee leaders for 2023 General Assembly session". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
16. Michaels, Andrew (January 9, 2017). "Pointers Run Elementary fourth-grader designs animal T-shirts for Ellicott City flood recovery". Howard County Times. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
17. Haynes, Allana (June 25, 2021). "Resource officers will remain in Howard County schools next year, Board of Education decides in 5–3 vote". Howard County Times. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
18. "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Howard County". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. July 31, 2018. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
19. "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for Howard County". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. November 12, 2018. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
20. "Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. August 24, 2022. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
21. "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. July 12, 2022. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.

External links

• "Members – Delegate Chao Wu". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.