Jacqueline Tseng, a first-generation Cambodian refugee who’s been active in local and state politics, filed paperwork to join the crowded Republican field for the 7th District congressional race.
Tseng announced her candidacy during the state GOP convention in Savannah recently. In a video on her website, Tseng talks about her experience living “through Communist and Socialist rule in a war-torn country” and that “they’re trying to get their hands back on society.”
Tseng’s family escaped genocide by the Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970s and became U.S. citizens, according to her website. Tseng went on to start her own business and work in the IT field.
A Gwinnett County resident since 2000, Tseng serves on numerous civic and political organizations, including her current role as secretary of the executive board of the Gwinnett County Republican Party. In 2018, she co-founded the Conservative Diversity Alliance to “foster relationships in diverse communities across metro Atlanta” and promote “strong family values, economic freedom and civic engagement,” according to her website.
Tseng makes it eight Republicans competing to represent the district, which includes the majority of Forsyth and Gwinnett counties. The high-profile race has been receiving national attention after Rep. Rob Woodall (R-Lawrenceville) defeated Democratic challenger Carolyn Boudreaux in 2018 by less than 500 votes in a historically conservative stronghold.
Woodall announced in February that he won’t seek re-election, turning the open seat into arguably one of the most competitive and compelling in the country.
Tseng joins longtime state Sen. Renee Unterman (R-Buford), former Home Depot executive Lynne Homrich, former Atlanta Falcons player Joe Profit, Air Force veteran Ben Bullock, physician Rich McCormick, businessman Mark Gonsalves, former education executive Lerah Lee and former college professor Lisa Noel Babbage.
Bourdeaux is back to try again, along with other Democratic hopefuls in state Rep. Brenda Lopez Romero (D-99), activist Nabilah Islam, attorney Marqus Cole and former Fulton County Commission chairman John Eaves.