Angie Chen Button (Chinese: 陳筱玲; pinyin: Chén Xiǎolíng; born February 9, 1954) is a Taiwanese-born American politician, certified public accountant, and former marketing manager. She is a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing the 112th district in Dallas County since 2009.[1]
Angie Chen Button | |
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Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 112th district | |
Assumed office January 13, 2009 | |
Preceded by | Fred Hill |
Personal details | |
Born | Taipei, Taiwan | February 9, 1954
Nationality | American |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Darcy Glen Button |
Children | Dane Chen Button |
Residence(s) | Garland, Dallas County Texas, U.S. |
Education | National Taiwan University (BS) University of Texas at Dallas (MS) |
Occupation | Businesswoman |
Button was born in Taipei, Taiwan, to parents who fled Mainland China amidst the Great Retreat. The family of 7 lived in a 300-square foot, one-room hut without a bathroom or a kitchen.[2] She graduated from National Taiwan University and immigrated to the United States to attend graduate school at The University of Texas at Dallas, where she met her husband Darcy Button.[3] She proceeded to work as an accountant and marketing director.[4]
Following incumbent Frank Hill's retirement in 2008, then-State Senator Florence Shapiro called Button and suggested she run for the seat.[3]
Button is currently the chair of the House Committee on International Relations and Economic Development and serves as a member of the Ways and Means Committee. In its annual review, Texas Monthly named Button one of the state's best legislators in 2021 for her work in allocating child-care program funding.[5]
Despite her district voting for Joe Biden by nine points in 2020, Button has garnered significant split-ticket voting and is one of two remaining Republicans in the House of Representatives from Dallas County.[6]