Meet the state lawmakers running for Congress: Del. Mark Chang

Eight state legislators are running in congressional primaries in three separate districts this spring. Maryland Matters has been checking in with all of them to discuss how they are balancing their legislative work with the imperative to be out on the campaign trail, along with the issues they are emphasizing in the General Assembly and on the campaign trail.

This is the last installment of our series. We’re continuing to cover these congressional races as we get closer to the May 14 primaries.

How many state lawmakers can claim to have grown up in the shadow of the State House?

Del. Mark S. Chang’s parents moved to a one-bedroom apartment on Maryland Avenue in Annapolis, across the street from the Naval Academy and two blocks from the State House, after immigrating from South Korea in 1975. Chang (D-Anne Arundel) was born a year later and spent the first couple of years of his life there as his father opened a convenience store a few blocks away, at the corner of Clay Street and West Washington, and his mother worked at Annapolis General Hospital.

The family couldn’t afford an air conditioner, so in the warmer weather, the windows were always open. The noise from Buzzy’s Pizza Parlor, downstairs from their apartment, often wafted in.

“The Mids had a good time and it kept my family up at night,” Chang recalled in an interview this week.

Eventually, the family moved to Glen Burnie, and Chang hasn’t gone very far since then. His legislative district takes in parts of central and northern Anne Arundel County.

Chang’s humble origin story is a key part of his campaign narrative as he competes to replace U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes (D) in the 3rd congressional district. Even though he hasn’t traveled very far from a geographic standpoint, his journey has taken him a long way.

Now, Chang points out, as the vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee in Annapolis and chair of the Capital Budget subcommittee, “I’m at the table when the big decisions are being made over the $63 billion budget and the $10 billion capital budget.”

In a 22-candidate Democratic primary, with most of the candidates aligned on the issues, it can be hard to stand out. But Chang marvels at the diversity of life experiences in the race.

“The voters really have a vibrant list of accomplished candidates to choose from,” he said.

Chang said his admiration extends to Harry Dunn, the former U.S. Capitol Police officer who does not live in the 3rd District but has transformed the race with his national celebrity and prodigious fundraising — and forced each of the other candidates to change their campaign calculations.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Harry Dunn, his public service, his being there to protect the Capitol on Jan. 6, the pain he went through,” Chang said.

Chang is one of five state lawmakers competing in the 3rd District primary, and like his colleagues and competitors who are also legislators, he spent the past three months limited to night and weekend campaigning as his legislative duties took precedence. With his high-profile committee assignments, Chang didn’t propose any blockbuster bills and instead focused on bringing resources to his district and helping his colleagues do the same.

“We’ve been working to do the best we can with the investments for the state,” said Chang, who has served on the Appropriations panel since his election to the House in 2014.

Still, one of his bills , to provide collective bargaining rights to certain supervisory employees at state government agencies, will be signed into law by Gov. Wes Moore (D) on Thursday.

Just because he was a congressional candidate this year, Chang says it did not change his approach to lawmaking during the legislative session.

“I’ve always had a very collaborative spirit,” he said. “That’s just the way I am. This didn’t feel any different. Legislating is a team sport. As a member of a legislature, whether it’s the state legislature or Congress, we’re one of 188 [in Annapolis] or one of 535 [on Capitol Hill]. It’s important to build integrity and trust.”

But Chang does believe that his legislative experience, working with colleagues from across the state, would translate if he were to wind up in Congress.

“It’s people from different walks of life that shape policy,” he said.

Chang is not, at the moment, considered a leading contender in the Democratic primary. The frontrunners are perceived to be Dunn and Sens. Sarah K. Elfreth (D-Anne Arundel) and Clarence K. Lam (D-Howard and Anne Arundel). But considering his modest beginnings, he believes that just being on the congressional ballot “is a great honor” and a testament to America’s greatness.

“There’s places in the world where we couldn’t do this,” he said.

Sometimes, during the legislative session, to relieve stress and center himself, Chang walks by the apartment building in Annapolis where his family lived, or by the site of the old grocery store his father ran. It reminds him of the opportunities he’s had in life, his passion for public service, and the value of serving in the legislature.

“It reminds me of the sacrifices my parents made,” he said, “and it makes me really grateful.”

To see the rest of the series: Sen. Clarence K. Lam (D-Howard and Anne Arundel), Del. Lesley Lopez (D-Montgomery), Del. Harry Bhandari (D-Baltimore County), Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth (D-Anne Arundel), Del. Terri L. Hill (D-Howard), Del. Mike Rogers (D-Anne Arundel) and Del. Joe Vogel (D-Montgomery).

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