MEET HOAN HUYNH (pronounced "Han Win")

Hoan Huynh is a vietnam war refugee, community leader, workers' rights advocate, community investments expert, and a technology innovation professional.

He currently serves as State Representative for Illinois' 13th State House District in the illinois general assembly.

Coming to America as Refugees from War-Torn Vietnam

Hoan Huynh and his family came to the United States as refugees after the Vietnam War. His grandparents gave their lives fighting for democracy, freedom, and human rights. His father, a South Vietnamese soldier who fought alongside American forces, spent five years in a prison camp before the family was granted asylum under the Refugee Act of 1980.

In America, Hoan was raised by his mother, who worked long hours in a factory with an 8th grade education and his father, who suffered from PTSD as a Vietnam War Veteran. Hoan learned English as a second language, attended K-12 public schools, and worked hard to build a better life for his family and community. His community and local nonprofits invested in his potential and with the help of after-school programs and free school lunches, he was able to excel in the classrooms.

With the help of scholarships, student loans, and part-time jobs, Hoan graduated with double-major honors and distinction from Yale University. He went on to earn a master’s degree from Harvard University through a social innovation fellowship in management and public policy, along with additional coursework at University of Cambridge and the University of Chicago.

After graduate school, Hoan came back to Illinois to serve. He has worked in underinvested communities in Chicagoland to bring resources, opportunity, and hope to people too often overlooked. He is currently 36 years old with over a decade of experience in the private sector, nonprofit sector, and public sector as an elected official, and is the next generation of leadership that America needs right now.

Leading Economic and Community Development in Illinois

Before running for office, Hoan led social impact and community investments that directed hundreds of millions of dollars into Illinois and across the country. He spearheaded initiatives into technology startups, small businesses, women’s healthcare, violence prevention, job creation, economic development and infrastructure projects.

During the pandemic, as supply chains collapsed, Hoan built a statewide logistics network that delivered millions of dollars’ worth of essential goods—food, diapers, sanitizer, formula, masks—to hundreds of thousands of families, Veterans, seniors, and immigrant communities across Illinois.

He partnered with local groups, community leaders, and governments to tackle urgent issues like gun violence, youth employment, and trauma in schools. He helped launch Chicago’s Home for Social Innovation, a multi-million dollar hub where community leaders and technology professionals work together to build a more just and equitable city, solving some of the state's pressing challenges.

Grassroots community service and advocacy before PUBLIC SERVICE

For Hoan, community work doesn’t end at the office. As the son of war refugees, he knows what it means to lose everything and rely on the kindness of others. His parents taught him to pay that kindness forward.

In Uptown, Chicago, Hoan has worked to end homelessness for women through a local nonprofit—a cause close to his heart, as his mother experienced homelessness in Vietnam. He believes safe housing is a human right.

He’s long been active in Chicago’s Asian American and Pacific Islander community through the Chinese Mutual Aid Association, helping immigrant and refugee families access critical services. When the pandemic fueled anti-Asian hate and shuttered local businesses, Hoan co-founded Celebrate Argyle to support the neighborhood. He mobilized volunteers, helped small businesses secure millions in federal aid, and spotlighted local restaurants to bring customers back.

Hoan also partners with the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars to honor those who served, including his father. He’s proud to stand with veterans and advocate for the care and respect they deserve, including mental health services, employment opportunities, and affordable housing.

FIGHTING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES IN SPRINGFIELd and getting results

Hoan currently serves as State Representative in the Illinois General Assembly. In Springfield, as State Representative, Hoan advocated for expansion of workforce development programs to create new, good paying jobs in industries of the future such as data technology, electric vehicles, and clean energy.

As State Representative, Hoan fought to expand Community Care Programs for our seniors, allocating $408M to provide resources, comprehensive care coordination, emergency home response services, and day services for our seniors in their homes.

As Vice-Chairman of the Housing Committee, Hoan fought to allocate $350M to support homelessness prevention, affordable housing, outreach, and support programs, including an additional $85M in new funding to reach functional zero homelessness in Illinois.

Hoan fought for investments in a green economy that works for everyone, with implementing the Climate Equitable Jobs Act and green infrastructure and received a 100% voting record when it came to protecting our environment. He has also taken on the National Rifle Association, working to get guns off our streets and received an "F" rating from the NRA.

Securing millions of dollars for our communities

As State Representative, Hoan fought to defend and protect a woman's right to reproductive healthcare, and pushed for $18M in new funding to support access to reproductive healthcare across Illinois, ensuring durable funding for culturally sensitive and language accessible reproductive healthcare providers in our Black and Brown, immigrant, and other vulnerable & underserved communities.

He has been a fearless advocate to protect LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination in employment, credit, education, and housing, and has supported important LGBTQ+ community initiatives, such as taking away overly restrictive ID change laws in Illinois, so that individuals are acknowledged by our government and are able to live authentically.

He has fought to ensure that gender-affirming care is available to everyone in Illinois, and worked with state, local partners, and stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of laws and policies that allow transgender individuals to experience dignity and safety in their everyday lives.

He also advocated for more funding for mental healthcare services to address higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicides in transgender youth.

Hoan fought to increase resources available for community groups and organizations that work with and for transgender people and transgender youth that don’t have supportive families, in addition to securing millions of dollars for our safety net hospitals in Illinois to serve our most vulnerable communities.

ADDRESSING CONSTITUENT NEEDS AND CHALLENGES

Hoan works long hours from 6AM to midnight to make sure that his constituents' issues are resolved as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours. He understands the importance of addressing constituent needs and alleviating any challenges that they may have, whether it's housing, healthcare, immigration, employment, food insecurity, and other issues crucial to our neighborhoods and communities.

He begins every day with a commitment to put the priorities of working families first, and ensure they have what they need in order to save, prosper and flourish for the future.

That's why Hoan Huynh will work hard for you everyday as your next Congressman, 24/7, putting you and your family at the forefront of any decision.

fighting for YOU AND YOUR FAMILY Everyday

Hoan is one of six children and grew up always being aware of how his refugee family was different from so many in the community around him.

Through his parents’ sacrifices, the guidance of teachers, scholarships, work-study, and student loans, Hoan graduated from Yale University with a bachelor’s degree, with honors. He studied at the University of Cambridge and holds a master’s degree from Harvard University, with additional graduate coursework at the University of Chicago. 

Before Hoan worked in public service, he worked in social impact and community investments. Prior to that, he worked in innovation, technology startups, product design, social entrepreneurship, consulting, and education policy research.