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Steven Seokho Choi (Korean: 최석호; born January 15, 1944) is a Korean American politician serving as a California State Senator, representing the 37th District since December 2, 2024. A Republican from Orange County, California, he previously served three terms as a California State Assemblymember representing the 68th Assembly District from 2016 to 2022.

Choi previously served two terms as Mayor of Irvine, California from 2012 to 2016. From 2004 to 2012, he served two terms on the Irvine City Council, where he was the first Asian American to have been elected to a four-year term. In 1998, Choi became the first Asian-American elected to the Irvine United School Board, leaving in the middle of his second term when he was elected to the City Council.

Early life and education

Steven Choi was born in 1944 in Naju,[1] Zenranan Province, Korea, Empire of Japan (now in South Korea).[2] Choi earned his B.A. from Kyung Hee University in 1966.[3][4] In August 1968, Choi moved from South Korea to the United States as a Peace Corps language instructor for the United States Department of State.[5][6] He then continued his post-graduate education, earning his master’s degree in library science from Louisiana State University in 1971 and Ph.D. in library and information science at the University of Pittsburgh in 1976.[6]

Career

Educator

Choi has taught at several universities and colleges including the University of Southern California; University of California, Irvine; California State University, Los Angeles; Henderson State University; Saddleback College; and most recently Coastline Community College. He founded and serves as director of Dr. Choi’s Academy, a tutoring and academic enrichment business.[6]

Local government

Choi was elected to the Irvine Unified School District Board of Education in 1998 and reelected in 2002.[6] He was elected to the Irvine City Council in 2004,[6] becoming the first Asian American elected to a four-year term on the council.[5] He and Sukhee Kang (elected to a two-year term on the same day) became the first two Asian Americans and Koreans elected to the Irvine City Council. Choi served on the Irvine City Council until 2012, when he defeated councilman Larry Agran in the mayoral election and was elected to a two-year term as Irvine’s mayor. He was reelected as mayor in 2014.[citation needed]

The Irvine city council at the time was composed of five members, including the mayor. The council had four Republican members (Choi, Christina Shea, Lynn Schott, and Jeff Lalloway) and one Democratic member (Beth Krom). During the course of new sister city negotiations, he successfully opposed the One-China principle demanded by Shanghai‘s Xuhui government in the People’s Republic of China, which would have required Irvine to abandon its existing long-term sister city relationship with Taoyuan, Taiwan.[citation needed]

Choi served as Chairman of the Orange County Public Library Advisory Board, which consisted of mayors and city council members from 27 cities within Orange County, and he was also Chairman of the Irvine Library Advisory Committee. He served on the Orange County Great Park Corporation Board, where he pushed for construction of an Orange County/City Metropolitan Library at the Great Park. He also served on the boards of the Irvine Redevelopment Agency, the Orange County Sanitation District Board and other countywide committees.[citation needed]

In addition, Choi was a member of the Concordia University President’s Advisory Council and was Irvine’s representative to Growth Management Areas 4 and 9 and the Newport Bay Watershed Executive Committee. He formerly represented the 71st Assembly District on the Orange County Republican Party Central Committee. On June 3, 2008, he became the only incumbent to not be re-elected to the Orange County Republican Party Central Committee, coming in seventh with only 6.5% of the available vote. He was also a member of the Local Elected Officials Association and the 400 Club.[citation needed]

State Legislature

In 2010, Choi sought election to the California State Assembly, but narrowly lost the Republican primary to Donald P. Wagner, who went on to win the general election.[7]

In 2016, Choi won election to the California State Assembly, narrowly defeating Anaheim City Councilman Harry Sidhu in the primary and winning the general election with 60% of the vote to replace Wagner, who in turn won election as Mayor of Irvine, replacing Choi.[8]

In 2024, Choi won election to the California State Senate, narrowly defeating Senator Josh Newman in an upset.[citation needed]

Personal life

With his wife, Janie, and their two children, Choi has lived in Irvine since 1993. He previously lived in Mission Viejo from 1981 until 1993. Both of their children attended public schools in the Irvine Unified School District. His son, Daniel, is a physician at Kaiser Permanente in Orange County. His daughter, Michelle, is an attorney working in Irvine.[citation needed]

Electoral history

1998

Irvine Unified School District Election, 1998[9]
Candidate Votes %
Margie Wakeham 17,808 33.2
Steven S. Choi 9,418 17.6
Sue Banes 6,615 12.3
Ellen Lee 5,547 10.3
Kevin J. McElroy 5,494 10.3
Rob Wolf 3,125 5.8
Lance Neal 2,629 4.9
Peter R. Rundle 1,419 2.6
Atiya Akbar 949 1.8
John E. York 591 1.1
Total votes 53,595 100

2002

Irvine Unified School District Election, 2002[10]
Candidate Votes %
Sharon Wallin 20,978 40.1
Steven Choi (Incumbent) 15,007 28.7
Ruth Sanchez 7,235 13.8
Mark S. Schuk 6,198 11.8
Craig Shankman 2,911 5.6
Total votes 52,329 100

2004

Irvine City Council Election, 2004[11]
Candidate Votes %
Larry Agran 25,210 16.9
Steven Choi 25,052 16.8
Sukhee Kang 24,642 16.5
Debbie Coven 24,261 16.2
Mike House 22,561 15.1
Greg Smith 22,326 14.9
Mohsen Alinaghian 5,336 3.6
Total votes 149,388 100

2008

Irvine City Council Election, 2008[11]
Candidate Votes %
Beth Krom 36,924 19.5
Steven Choi (Incumbent) 28,886 15.3
Larry Agran (Incumbent) 28,157 14.9
Margie Wakeham 22,669 12.0
Todd Gallinger 22,423 11.9
Patrick Rodgers 22,093 11.7
Eric Johnson 11,022 5.8
Bea Foster 10,877 5.8
Ruby Roung 3,697 2.0
Paris Merriam 2,354 1.2
Total votes 189,102 100

2010

California’s 70th State Assembly district Republican primary election, 2010[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Donald P. Wagner 15,862 32.8
Republican Steven Choi 14,569 30.1
Republican Jerry Amante 11,660 24.1
Republican Jay Ferguson 6,341 13.1

2012

City of Irvine mayoral election, 2012[11]
Candidate Votes %
Steven Choi 32,505 45.7
Larry Agran 28,741 40.4
Katherine Daigle 9,951 13.9
Total votes 71,197

2014

City of Irvine mayoral election, 2014[11]
Candidate Votes %
Steven Choi (incumbent) 18,333 45.4
Mary Ann Gaido 17,380 43.0
Katherine Daigle 4,698 11.6
Total votes 40,411

2016

2016 California State Assembly 68th district election[13][14]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sean Jay Panahi 32,610 33.0
Republican Steven Choi 19,559 19.8
Republican Harry Sidhu 19,405 19.7
Republican Deborah Pauly 13,880 14.1
Republican Alexia Deligianni-Brydges 5,098 5.2
No party preference Brian Chuchua 4,635 4.7
Republican Kostas Roditis 3,528 3.6
Total votes 98,715 100.0
General election
Republican Steven Choi 114,210 60.3
Democratic Sean Jay Panahi 75,231 39.7
Total votes 189,441 100.0
Republican hold

2018

2018 California State Assembly 68th district election[15][16]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steven Choi (incumbent) 57,099 59.0
Democratic Michelle Duman 39,751 41.0
Total votes 96,850 100.0
General election
Republican Steven Choi (incumbent) 96,611 53.1
Democratic Michelle Duman 85,164 46.9
Total votes 181,775 100.0
Republican hold

2020

2020 California State Assembly 68th district election[17][18]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steven Choi (incumbent) 44,165 44.9
Democratic Melissa Fox 32,278 32.8
Democratic Eugene Fields 12,543 12.7
Republican Benjamin Yu 9,468 9.6
Total votes 98,454 100.0
General election
Republican Steven Choi (incumbent) 136,841 53.1
Democratic Melissa Fox 120,965 46.9
Total votes 257,806 100.0
Republican hold

2022

2022 California State Assembly 73rd district election[19][20]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Cottie Petrie-Norris (incumbent) 44,890 56.2
Republican Steven Choi (incumbent) 34,957 43.8
Total votes 79,847 100.0
General election
Democratic Cottie Petrie-Norris (incumbent) 75,950 55.8
Republican Steven Choi (incumbent) 60,212 44.2
Total votes 136,162 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

2024

2024 California State Senate 37th district election[21][22]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Josh Newman (incumbent) 67,109 30.1
Republican Steven Choi 48,364 21.7
Republican Crystal Miles 31,132 14.0
Republican Guy Selleck 22,546 10.1
Democratic Alex Mohajer 18,550 8.3
Republican Anthony C. Kuo 15,739 7.1
Democratic Leticia Correa 6,000 2.7
Democratic Stephanie Le 4,532 2.0
Democratic Gabrielle Ashbaugh 4,396 2.0
Democratic Jenny Suarez 3,191 1.4
Democratic Jacob Niles Creer 1,606 0.7
Total votes 223,165 100.0
General election
Republican Steven Choi 232,345 50.7
Democratic Josh Newman (incumbent) 226,270 49.3
Total votes 458,615 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

See also

References

  1. ^ “About Dr. Steven Choi”. California State Senator Dr. Steven Choi, Representing District 37. California State Senate. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  2. ^ “Steven S. Choi”. Join California. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  3. ^ “Mayor Steven S. Choi, Ph.D.” City of Irvine. City of Irvine. 10 March 2015.
  4. ^ “Steven Choi’s Biography”. Vote Smart. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  5. ^ a b “Irvine, California Mayor Steven Choi”. Seoul Journal. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d e “Full Biography for Steven S. Choi”. SmartVoter. 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  7. ^ California Secretary of State Debra Bowen (2010), Statement of Vote: June 8, 2010, Statewide Direct Primary Election (PDF), State of California, retrieved 31 January 2026
  8. ^ “Assemblyman Steven Choi”. California State Assembly: 68th Assembly District. California State Assembly. Archived from the original on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  9. ^ “VOTE TOTALS TEXT FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICE CANDIDATES” (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  10. ^ “Statement of Vote: 2002 General Election” (PDF). Orange County Registrar of Voters. December 3, 2002. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  11. ^ a b c d “Municipal Election History 1971 to Present”. Irvine City Clerk’s Office. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  12. ^ “Orange County Registrar Statement of Votes June 2010” (PDF). OCVote.com. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  13. ^ “June 7, 2016, Presidential Primary Election – State Assemblymember” (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  14. ^ “November 8, 2016, General Election – State Assemblymember” (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  15. ^ “June 5, 2018, Statewide Direct Primary Election – State Assemblymember” (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  16. ^ “November 6, 2018, General Election – State Assemblymember” (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  17. ^ “March 3, 2020, Presidential Primary Election – State Assemblymember” (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  18. ^ “November 3, 2020, General Election – State Assemblymember” (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  19. ^ “June 7, 2022, Primary Election – State Assemblymember” (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  20. ^ “November 8, 2022, General Election – State Assemblymember” (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  21. ^ “March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election – State Senator” (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  22. ^ “November 5, 2024, General Election – State Senator” (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 2, 2025.