Lester was born in public housing on the Lower East Side of New York City to immigrant Chinese parents who were determined to provide a better life for their three children. At the age of 8, Lester's father, a cook at a Chinese restaurant, passed away after a battle with cancer. The family briefly moved back to Hong Kong to live with relatives before returning to New York City a few years later, settling in the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Meet Lester Chang

A product of New York’s public education system, Lester graduated from Midwood High School and earned a BS in Accounting from Brooklyn College (CUNY) as well as a Master’s in International Transportation from the State University of New York Maritime College (SUNY). He initially worked in banking and finance before transitioning to a career in global logistics, which allowed him to travel extensively throughout Asia.

A proud New Yorker, Lester resides in Brooklyn and serves on the executive committee of his local Chinatown American Legion Post 1291, which has over 400 members.

Lester Chang was born in public housing on the Lower East Side of New York City. He earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Brooklyn College and a master's degree in international transportation from the State University of New York Maritime College. He resides in Brooklyn and serves on the executive committee of Chinatown American Legion Post 1291.

Lester’s career began with positions at Bank of America and a local Chinatown stock brokerage before he focused on the shipping industry. He quickly advanced to management roles at Wen-Parker Logistics and later Seagate Logistics, where he managed operations in India and various other Asian countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong, and China.

In addition to his successful career in the private sector, Lester served nearly 24 years as a Navy reservist. Following the events of 9/11, he was assigned to support Homeland Security in Washington, D.C. In 2009-2010, he was deployed as a military analyst to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, where he held the rank of Chief Warrant Officer (CWO3).

Lester is a current member of the New York State Naval Militia and has volunteered for State active duty in support of Operation COVID-19 since March 2020.

Lester Chang is a current member of the New York State Naval Militia. He previously held management roles at Wen-Parker Logistics and Seagate Logistics after working at Bank of America and a local Chinatown stock brokerage. He also served nearly 24 years as a Navy reservist and held the rank of Chief Warrant Officer (CWO3).

Lester is a current member of the New York State Naval Militia. He previously held management roles at Wen-Parker Logistics and Seagate Logistics after working at Bank of America and a local Chinatown stock brokerage. He also served nearly 24 years as a Navy reservist and held the rank of Chief Warrant Officer (CWO3).

Lester Chang was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2022, defeating a 30-year incumbent. He represents the 49th Assembly District, serving the communities of Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, Sunset Park, and Borough Park.

Lester currently serves in the New York State Assembly, representing the 49th Assembly District. He was elected in 2022.

2026 New York General Election

Lester is committed to serving New Yorkers as they try to earn a living, raise their families, educate their children, and live in a safe, secure environment. He will support more charter schools, fewer business regulations, compassion for the homeless, and respect the needs of all New Yorkers.

Biography | Assembly District 49

Lester is focused on creating a vibrant and growing economy in New York City. He understands that the pandemic has hindered economic growth and business opportunities, and he is committed to supporting policies that will help small businesses recover. He advocates for expanding the sales-tax-free clothing limit to $250 and providing additional forgivable loans to small businesses in targeted communities to stimulate growth.

Issues

As a businessman, Lester believes that Albany must adopt a more fiscally responsible approach. New York is one of the highest-taxed states in the nation, and Lester is committed to reducing taxes to help businesses thrive. He will fight against the tax-and-spend mentality that has stifled economic growth and drive policies that promote job creation and economic opportunity for all New Yorkers.

Veterans: Supporting Our Troops

As an Afghan War veteran, Lester Chang is deeply committed to advocating for the needs of veterans. There are over 250,000 veterans living in New York City, and Lester will work to ensure they receive the support they deserve. He will fight for expanded veteran services, including mental health support, addiction treatment, and housing assistance. Additionally, he will work to increase veteran hiring preferences in city agencies and support payroll tax credits for employers who hire disabled veterans.

Advocates for raising the sales-tax-free clothing limit to $250 and providing forgivable small-business loans in targeted communities.

Supports tax reductions and policies intended to promote job creation and economic opportunity.

Supports increased city-agency hiring preferences for veterans and payroll tax credits for employers hiring disabled veterans.

- Supports fewer business regulations.
- Advocates for raising the sales-tax-free clothing limit to $250 and providing forgivable small-business loans in targeted communities.
- Supports tax reductions and policies intended to promote job creation and economic opportunity.
- Supports increased city-agency hiring preferences for veterans and payroll tax credits for employers hiring disabled veterans.

Economy

As of September 9, 2026, Lester Chang’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Supports expanded veterans services, including mental-health support, addiction treatment, and housing assistance.

- Supports expanded veterans services, including mental-health support, addiction treatment, and housing assistance.

Healthcare

Voting & Elections

Tackling Rising Crime and Reforming Bail Laws: Lester is alarmed by the rising crime rates in New York City and is committed to making public safety a top priority. He believes the recent changes to bail laws have created unintended consequences, allowing repeat offenders to be released back into society shortly after being arrested. Lester will work to modify these laws, ensuring that judges have discretion in setting bail amounts and implementing a three-strike rule for serial offenders. He believes these reforms will help protect law-abiding citizens and support the hard-working men and women of the police force.

Opposing Community Jails: Lester does not support the construction of new community jails in New York City. Instead, he advocates for modernizing the existing Rikers Island facilities and building transitional support centers that provide job training, education, and rehabilitation services for former inmates. These facilities will help prepare individuals for successful reintegration into society and reduce recidivism.

Proposes modifying bail laws to give judges discretion in setting bail and establish a three-strike rule for serial offenders.

Opposes new New York City community jails and advocates modernizing Rikers Island and building reentry support centers.

- Proposes modifying bail laws to give judges discretion in setting bail and establish a three-strike rule for serial offenders.
- Opposes new New York City community jails and advocates modernizing Rikers Island and building reentry support centers.

Public Safety

While serving in the Legislature, Lester will fight to reduce rampant crime, fix broken bail and parole laws, support law enforcement, lift the charter school cap, stop mandated curriculum for private schools, and provide meaningful, substantive support services for the homeless, veterans, and incarcerated individuals transitioning back to society.

Making Education Affordable: Lester supports the Education Investment Tax Credit  to provide financial relief to families who choose private or parochial schools. By giving tax credits to parents already paying taxes for private school tuition, this policy will help alleviate the financial burden on families, making it easier for them to provide their children with a quality education. Lester believes that children, regardless of their financial situation, deserve the best educational opportunities, and he will prioritize making these choices accessible for all.

Merit-based admission to Specialized High Schools: Lester is committed to preserving the merit-based admissions process for specialized high schools, such as Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, and Brooklyn Tech, ensuring that academically talented students have the opportunity to excel. Lester will fight to keep these schools' rigorous standards in place, believing that merit-based academic testing should not be altered. These schools prepare and send gifted and talented children to highly competitive and selective universities. Merit-based academic tests should NOT be changed.

School Choice & Lifting The Cap On Charter Schools: Lester is a strong advocate for school choice and believes in lifting the cap on charter schools in New York City. He recognizes that charter schools offer unique educational opportunities and have demonstrated success in educating minority children who struggle in traditional public schools. As part of his commitment to improving education, Lester will push for the creation of 50 new charter schools in the coming years, empowering families with more choices for their children’s education.

Plans to oppose mandated curriculum requirements for private schools.

Supports the Education Investment Tax Credit for families choosing private or parochial schools.

Supports preserving merit-based admissions and testing standards for New York City specialized high schools.

Advocates for lifting New York City's charter-school cap and creating 50 new charter schools.

- Plans to oppose mandated curriculum requirements for private schools.
- Supports the Education Investment Tax Credit for families choosing private or parochial schools.
- Supports preserving merit-based admissions and testing standards for New York City specialized high schools.
- Advocates for lifting New York City's charter-school cap and creating 50 new charter schools.

Education

Addressing Homelessness with Compassion and Practical Solutions: Lester is committed to addressing homelessness in New York City with practical solutions that prioritize support and rehabilitation. He proposes creating dormitory-like facilities at Rikers Island for homeless individuals, offering them housing, food, job training, treatment, and self-esteem-building programs. By providing these services, Lester believes the city can help individuals overcome homelessness and reintegrate into society with the tools they need to succeed.

Proposes dormitory-like Rikers Island facilities for homeless people that provide housing, food, job training, treatment, and self-esteem programs.

- Proposes dormitory-like Rikers Island facilities for homeless people that provide housing, food, job training, treatment, and self-esteem programs.

Housing & Urban Development

Twitter

Facebook

YouTube

Lester Chang

- Advocates for raising the sales-tax-free clothing limit to $250 and providing forgivable small-business loans in targeted communities.
- Supports tax reductions and policies intended to promote job creation and economic opportunity.
- Supports increased city-agency hiring preferences for veterans and payroll tax credits for employers hiring disabled veterans.

- Supports the Education Investment Tax Credit for families choosing private or parochial schools.
- Supports preserving merit-based admissions and testing standards for New York City specialized high schools.
- Advocates for lifting New York City's charter-school cap and creating 50 new charter schools.

Instagram

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

Joyce Xiaoqiong Xie

- Your assembly member is involved in the legislative process at the state level as part of the New York State Assembly, which consists of 150 members and serves as the lower house of the New York State Legislature.  
- Assembly members are responsible for representing your interests and assisting you with navigating state services while bringing resources back to your district.  
- Assembly members draft laws, approve budgets, oversee the state executive branch, and engage in debates and votes on proposed legislation.  
- In addition to drafting and voting on bills, your assembly member can serve on committees, where many bills may be delayed before reaching a vote.  
- Assembly members are elected for a two-year term with no term limits.  
- Their annual salary is $142,000.  

Your representative and state lawmaker in the New York State Assembly.