Phillip Chen is a Republican member of the California State Assembly representing the 59th District, which includes portions of Orange and San Bernardino counties, encompassing cities such as Anaheim Hills, Brea, Chino, Chino Hills, Fullerton, North Tustin, Orange, Placentia, Villa Park, and Yorba Linda. Born on April 22, 1978, in Whittier, California, he is a psychologist, former school board trustee, reserve sheriff's deputy, adjunct professor, and commercial real estate manager who has served in the Assembly since 2016, winning re-elections in 2018, 2020, and 2022. Notable achievements include turning a budget deficit into a surplus as a Walnut Valley Unified School District trustee, establishing a "rainy-day" fund, authoring AB 2156 to refine the definition of "gravely disabled" amid mental health challenges, and introducing AB 517 for an Orange County Property Crime Task Force. He serves as Deputy Whip for the Assembly Republican Caucus and holds positions such as Vice Chair of the Banking and Finance Committee, Vice Chair of Health, and member of committees including Business and Professions, Insurance, Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy, Utilities and Energy, Labor and Employment, and Select Committees on Asia/California Trade and Investment, Biotechnology and Medical Technology, and Legislative Ethics.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Graduated from Servite High School in Anaheim; earned a BA in Communications from California State University, Fullerton; MA in Public Administration and Doctorate in Educational Psychology from the University of Southern California. Served as Adjunct Faculty Professor at USC Sol Price School of Public Policy.
• Political Experience: Elected to Walnut Valley Unified School District Board in 2012; health policy advisor for Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, fostering public-private partnerships in health and mental health; appointed by Gov. Pete Wilson to Governor’s Office of Criminal Justice Planning, overseeing juvenile justice and working on legislation for foster children, gang violence prevention, and drug abuse; appointed Board Member for California Physical Therapy Board, handling licensing and investigations. Elected to State Assembly in 2016 after the prior incumbent's Senate run.