Brooklyn State Senator Candidate Profile: Iwen Chu

BROOKLYN, NY — Iwen Chu, 45, a Democrat and the incumbent candidate, is running for State Senator in District 17, which includes Sunset Park, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, and Kensington, in Brooklyn's general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Chu, from Dyker Heights, currently holds the position of State Senator for District 17. Before taking office in 2023, she held advocacy positions on Community Education Council Board 20 and Brooklyn Community Board 11, and was the chief of staff for Brooklyn Assemblymember Peter Abbate. She also worked as a community partner for the 68th precinct, the president of the Stars And Stripes Democratic Club, and the board director for HealthCare Choice.

Patch recently asked Chu four questions about her campaign and district. See her replies below.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article contains information about one of several candidates who have announced their campaigns for Brooklyn offices in the 2024 general election. Patch has contacted the other candidates with the same questions and will post replies as they are received.

PATCH: What are your qualifications to run for office?

CHU: I am a proud incumbent who has lived in this neighborhood for two decades after emigrating here from Taiwan. Not only am I comfortable navigating governmental processes to pass laws, but I also know what it’s like to be an immigrant, not speak the language, and have to re-learn entire social systems. I know what my community is going through, and I know how to help them get to the other side.

PATCH: What are the key issues in your district that you'd tackle in office? How would you tackle them?

CHU: E-bike regulations and safer streets are top priorities for my constituents. Through community outreach and stakeholder partnerships, I am proud to have championed an e-bike safety package to ban riders on sidewalks and help stop lithium-ion battery fires. We’ve applied this same model to addressing SNAP fraud, the housing court backlog, and hate crimes within our community.

PATCH: What sets you apart from the other candidate?

CHU: I am in this for the people, and have seen every side of life in this district–from arriving as an immigrant, to working as a reporter, to serving as Chief of Staff to the local Assemblymember, and then being a State Senator. I know what it’s like to feel hopeless and not know where to turn, and I also know how to leverage government resources to help those in the same position now. It’s been my honor to serve my community for the last twenty years, and I look forward to many more.

PATCH: What is one thing that always makes you smile about your district?

All of the authentic foods. I’m proud to represent such diverse ethnic backgrounds from
East, south, central and Southeast Asia, as well as Italian, Russian, Arabic communities and more. Celebrating with these enriched cultures and enjoying authentic foods reminds me of the beauty of NYC and how proud I am to represent their voice.