Politics & Government

Chen Increases His Presence in Community

The congressional candidate, who is looking to unseat incumbent Rep. Ed Royce, has opened a third office in the area.

Democratic Congressional candidate and businessman Jay Chen and his supporters celebrated the opening of his third campaign office at the Diamond Plaza in Rowland Heights on Saturday.

“We are excited to open our new headquarters, which will serve as the hub of grassroots activism across California’s new 39th District,” Chen said through a news release. “Our campaign is committed to bringing the message of change needed in Congress to voters all across this district, and to end the failed leadership, broken promises, and divisive politics coming out of Washington.”

Chen welcomed the crowd and spoke of  “new ideas, new leadership,”  a motto for his campaign. He talked about the crucial role Rowland Heights will play in the November general election, organizers said. Volunteers have been using the office to run daily door-to-door canvassing operations in Los Angeles County.

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“The communities of Rowland Heights, Hacienda Heights, Diamond Bar and Walnut are essential to turning our country around and putting America back to work,” Chen said. “The people of Los Angeles County know that the partisan politicians in Washington have sold us out. They’ve been bought by Wall Street.”

Chen thanked the volunteers for their support and hard work. His campaign earned a place on the ballot after becoming the second top vote getter in the June primary election, campaign officials wrote.

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Following Chen’s remarks, more than 50 volunteer canvassers took packets with handouts. Teams walked and talked to voters in Rowland Heights and Walnut.

So far, hundreds of volunteers and supporters have canvassed all of Hacienda Heights, as well as significant portions of Rowland Heights and Orange County in hopes of turning a rare swing district blue, organizers said.

The new headquarters will serve as the Chen for Congress campaign’s base of field operations in the Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, including the campaign’s main phone bank program, canvassing program, and distribution of yard signs and other campaign materials. Normal office hours will be 1-8 p.m. Monday through Friday, according to campaign officials.

“Chen, who faces a 20-year incumbent, has raised more than four times the amount that any challenger has ever raised against Tea Party Republican Ed Royce,” Supporters wrote. “Having reached out to local community leaders and voters, he looks to unseat special interest-backed Royce in what would be a major upset and victory for the community.”


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