With a career record of 14 wins and 2 losses, Steven Seokho Choi(80) has emerged victorious in the California State Senate District 37 race. On November 25, he secured his win against Democratic incumbent Josh Newman by a margin of 6,147 votes. Choi, a veteran politician, has served as a two-term Irvine School Board member, two-term Irvine City Council member, two-term Irvine mayor, and three-term California State Assembly member. As the only Korean-American legislator in the upcoming California State Assembly session, he will continue to represent the community with distinction.

Choi's political journey may seem like a smooth ride, but it has been fraught with challenges. After graduating from Kyung Hee University with a degree in English literature and completing his military service, he immigrated to the United States in 1968 as a Korean language instructor for the Peace Corps. Choi later earned a doctorate in education from the University of Pittsburgh and held academic positions at USC and UC Irvine before venturing into the private education sector in 1993.

It was in his 50s that Choi began exploring politics. He first served on the Irvine School Board from 1998 to 2004. Turning to local government, he was elected to the Irvine City Council in 2004 at the age of 60, serving two terms before being elected mayor in 2012. During his tenure, Choi witnessed an influx of Korean-American residents drawn by Irvine's renowned schools. However, his campaigns often faced financial hurdles, forcing him to rely on grassroots efforts, such as distributing pamphlets door-to-door and meeting voters in person.

In 2010, Choi made his first bid for the State Assembly but narrowly lost in the primary to fellow Republican Donald Wagner. Despite this setback, Choi persevered. Two years later, he successfully ran for mayor of Irvine, defeating veteran local politician Larry Agran in a major upset.

By 2016, Choi had set his sights on the State Assembly once more. This time, he secured a decisive victory in the general election for District 68, marking his entry into state-level politics. During his tenure, Choi championed resolutions significant to the Korean-American community, such as Korean-American Day, Kimchi Day, and Ahn Chang-ho Day. He also spearheaded legislation to simplify overseas adoption processes and grant legal status to adoptees.

However, his winning streak ended in 2022. Following district realignments, Choi lost to a Democratic incumbent in the State Assembly District 73 race. At nearly 80 years old, many assumed this defeat marked the end of his political career.

Yet, Choi defied expectations. When the Senate District 37 seat became available due to Dave Min’s congressional bid, Choi announced his candidacy. Despite being outspent and outnumbered in volunteers by his opponent, Josh Newman, Choi launched a tireless, hands-on campaign. He faced numerous challenges, including being asked to leave supermarkets while canvassing and relying on Korean-American college students and volunteers to fill campaign roles.

Ultimately, Choi’s determination paid off, creating yet another chapter in his storied political career. Starting in the new legislative session, Choi will serve as the sole Korean-American in the California State Senate.

Reflecting on his journey, Choi remarked, “The strides in Korean-American political influence were only possible because of the courageous individuals who dared to challenge the odds. I am humbled to have realized my dream of serving in the State Senate at 80. Who knows what challenges await me at 90?”

By Sehee Roh

<Sehee Roh>