Gary Locke

Gary Locke, born on January twenty-first, nineteen fifty, is a distinguished American politician, attorney, and former diplomat. He made history as the first Chinese-American governor of Washington, serving from nineteen ninety-seven to two thousand five. His tenure marked a significant milestone as he became the first Asian American governor in the contiguous United States.

Locke's political journey began in nineteen eighty-two when he was first elected to the Washington House of Representatives. He later became King County executive in nineteen ninety-three, before winning the gubernatorial election in nineteen ninety-six. A moderate Democrat, Locke was reelected in the two thousand gubernatorial election and was selected by national Democrats to deliver the party's response to President George W. Bush's two thousand three State of the Union Address. He chose not to seek reelection in two thousand four.

During the Obama administration, Locke held prominent positions, serving as Secretary of Commerce from two thousand nine to two thousand eleven, and later as Ambassador to China from two thousand eleven to two thousand fourteen, making him the first Chinese American to occupy that role.

In addition to his political career, Locke contributed to education as the interim president of Bellevue College from June twenty twenty to July twenty twenty-three. He has also been actively involved as the chairman of the Committee of 100 since two thousand twenty-one.