Preceded by Ray Basham Name Hoon-Yung Hopgood Preceded by Ray Basham Education University of Michigan | Political party Democratic Party Democratic Party Succeeded by Doug Geiss | |
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Born December 8, 1974 (age 49)
Incheon, South Korea ( 1974-12-08 ) | ||
Alma mater University of Michigan | ||
Senator Hoon Yung Hopgood 3 After meeting
Hoon-Yung Hopgood (born December 8, 1974) is a member of the Michigan State Senate. He is a Democrat and a former member of the Michigan State House of Representatives. He represents roughly half of the cities which make up the Downriver area of Metro Detroit, as well as other cities in Wayne County. He is the first Korean American to hold state office in Michigan.
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Early life
Hopgood was born in Incheon, South Korea, in 1974, and was adopted in 1976 by Diane Hopgood, former principal at Johnson Elementary in Taylor, Michigan, and the late Rollie Hopgood, who was president of the Michigan Federation of Teachers and School Related Personnel. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan in 1996. In 2002 he became an aide to former State Representative Ray Basham.
Political career
Hopgood was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2002, representing the 22nd District, which includes the cities of Romulus, Michigan and Taylor. He has become a leader on educational issues in the state. He was a member of the Children's Caucus, a board member of the Michigan Youth in Government, and a member of the House Democratic Task Force on Early Education and Care. He is on the Steering Committee for the Michigan Coalition on Civic Education, and was part of the Michigan delegation to the Congressional Conference on Civic Education in Washington, D.C.
In his final term, Hopgood served on six committees in the House of Representatives: Transportation - Chair, Education, Subcommittee on High School Graduation - Chair, Energy and Technology, Labor, and Senior Health and Retirement.
After serving three terms in the House of Representatives, Hopgood was term limited and was ineligible to serve again.
In 2010 Hopgood was elected to the Michigan State Senate, and is currently serving his first term. He serves on the Senate Education Committee, Energy and Technology Committee, and Appropriations Committee. He resides in Taylor.