# Justin Hwang > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Justin_Hwang > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Justin_Hwang.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Hwang > Source revision: 1348861135 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Justin Hwang** (born 1984)[1] is an American restaurateur and politician from Oregon who served as chair of the [Oregon Republican Party](/source/Oregon_Republican_Party) from 2022 until 2025. He is the first [Asian American](/source/Asian_American) and [Korean American](/source/Korean_American) to serve in the position. He previously served briefly as the vice chair from May to July of the same year. Hwang previously made unsuccessful bids for election to the [Oregon House of Representatives](/source/Oregon_House_of_Representatives) and [Oregon State Senate](/source/Oregon_State_Senate) in [2018](/source/2018_Oregon_legislative_election) and [2020](/source/2020_Oregon_State_Senate_election), respectively. ## Personal life and business career Hwang immigrated to the United States from [South Korea](/source/South_Korea) as a child and obtained [American citizenship](/source/American_citizenship) in 2006.[2] He is the founder of Joy Teriyaki, a restaurant chain in the [Portland metropolitan area](/source/Portland_metropolitan_area,_Oregon), and operator of the Fairview Food Plaza.[3] Hwang has lived in east [Multnomah County](/source/Multnomah_County,_Oregon) since 2003.[4] ## Oregon politics ### Candidacies Hwang ran in both the [2018 Oregon House of Representatives election](/source/2018_Oregon_legislative_election) and the [2020 Oregon State Senate election](/source/2020_Oregon_State_Senate_election), losing both times to state senator and former state representative [Chris Gorsek](/source/Chris_Gorsek).[5][6] Hwang accused incumbent Gorsek as using anti-immigrant language in a [mailer](/source/Advertising_mail) sent to voters in 2018.[7] In his 2020 state senate campaign, he was running to represent [Oregon's 25th Senate district](/source/Oregon's_25th_Senate_district) and focused on school funding for [Mt. Hood Community College](/source/Mt._Hood_Community_College).[4] ### Oregon Republican Party Hwang became the chair of the [Oregon Republican Party](/source/Oregon_Republican_Party) in July 2022 after briefly serving as the vice chair since May 2022.[8] His incumbency was preceded by several resignations from positions within the state party, including state senator [Dallas Heard](/source/Dallas_Heard) and former state senator and [Josephine County](/source/Josephine_County,_Oregon) commissioner [Herman Baertschiger](/source/Herman_Baertschiger), who resigned from the position in early 2022.[9] As chair, Hwang had been critical of both Oregon governor [Kate Brown](/source/Kate_Brown) and U.S. president [Joe Biden](/source/Joe_Biden) regarding the [2021–2023 inflation surge](/source/2021%E2%80%932023_inflation_surge).[10] Following the [Standoff at Eagle Pass](/source/Standoff_at_Eagle_Pass), Hwang signed a letter in support of Texas Governor [Greg Abbott](/source/Greg_Abbott)'s decision in the conflict.[11] Hwang declined to seek re-election and was replaced by [Jerry Cummings](/source/Jerry_Cummings).[12] ## References 1. ["Justin Hwang for State Senate"](https://justinfororegon.com/meet-justin). *justinfororegon.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221125043437/https://justinfororegon.com/meet-justin/) 25 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 November 2022. 1. ["Oregon GOP taps a new leader after another chair resigns"](https://www.opb.org/article/2022/07/06/oregon-gop-taps-a-new-leader-after-another-chair-resigns/). *Oregon Public Broadcasting*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221125043434/https://www.opb.org/article/2022/07/06/oregon-gop-taps-a-new-leader-after-another-chair-resigns/) 25 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 November 2022. 1. Keizur, Christopher. ["Oregon Republican Party names Justin Hwang as chairman"](https://pamplinmedia.com/go/42-news/550978-440992-oregon-republican-party-names-justin-hwang-as-chairman). *TheOutlook*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221125044113/https://pamplinmedia.com/go/42-news/550978-440992-oregon-republican-party-names-justin-hwang-as-chairman) 25 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 November 2022. 1. ["JUSTIN HWANG FOR OREGON"](http://www.latinmedianw.com/press-release/justin-hwang-for-oregon). *LatinMedia Northwest*. 4 September 2020. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221125045155/http://www.latinmedianw.com/press-release/justin-hwang-for-oregon) 25 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 November 2022. 1. DeBow, Matt. ["Hwang cites concerns with opponent's mailer"](https://pamplinmedia.com/go/42-news/410384-0212-hwang-cites-concerns-with-opponents-mailer-). *TheOutlook*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221125045718/https://pamplinmedia.com/go/42-news/410384-0212-hwang-cites-concerns-with-opponents-mailer-) 25 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 November 2022. 1. ["Justin Hwang announces candidacy for state Senate"](https://pamplinmedia.com/go/42-news/450514-367200-justin-hwang-announces-candidacy-for-state-senate). *TheOutlook*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221125045715/https://pamplinmedia.com/go/42-news/450514-367200-justin-hwang-announces-candidacy-for-state-senate) 25 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 November 2022. 1. ["In Oregon House Contest, a Candidate Spots Racist Overtones in Mailer"](https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2018/10/26/in-oregon-house-contest-a-candidate-spots-racist-overtones-in-mailer/). *Willamette Week*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221125045719/https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2018/10/26/in-oregon-house-contest-a-candidate-spots-racist-overtones-in-mailer/) 25 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 November 2022. 1. ["Justin Hwang Becomes Chairman of Oregon Republican Party"](https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2022/07/08/justin-hwang-becomes-chairman-of-oregon-republican-party/). *Willamette Week*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221125042806/https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2022/07/08/justin-hwang-becomes-chairman-of-oregon-republican-party/) 25 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 November 2022. 1. ["Oregon GOP has third new leader in less than 18 months after another chair resigns"](https://www.foxnews.com/us/oregon-gop-third-new-leader-18-months-after-chair-resigns). *Fox News*. 7 July 2022. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221125043847/https://www.foxnews.com/us/oregon-gop-third-new-leader-18-months-after-chair-resigns) 25 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 November 2022. 1. ["Justin Hwang named new Oregon Republican Party chairman"](https://ktvz.com/news/oregon-northwest/2022/07/06/justin-hwang-named-new-oregon-republican-party-chairman/). *KTVZ*. 7 July 2022. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221125043434/https://ktvz.com/news/oregon-northwest/2022/07/06/justin-hwang-named-new-oregon-republican-party-chairman/) 25 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 November 2022. 1. ["OR Republicans 2024-2-5 Joint letter on Texas"](https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/smithd/Documents/OR%20Republicans%202024-2-5%20Joint%20letter%20on%20Texas%20(002).pdf) 1. ["Oregon GOP chair won't seek reelection after all"](https://www.opb.org/article/2025/02/19/oregon-gop-chair-wont-seek-reelection-after-all/). *opb*. Retrieved 2025-06-30. ## External links - [Campaign website](https://justinfororegon.com/) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Justin Hwang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Hwang) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Hwang?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.