Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Chuck Park for US Congress NY-06
Candidate Name: Chuck Park
Office Seeking Election for: US Congress NY-06
Campaign Website: https://chuckforqueens.com./
1. Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments, why do you believe you are best qualified to represent your district?
I was born in Flushing Hospital to Korean immigrants whose first job in this country was street peddling. I grew up to become a U.S. diplomat under President Obama, before very publicly resigning to protest President Trump.
I worked as a community organizer at the MinKwon Center. A civil servant in the city government.
I’m a husband, a dad, and a foster parent many times over.
I’m running for Congress because all of our communities are under attack, and we need leaders who will forcefully fight back against Trump, ICE, and the destruction of our most basic social supports. We need leaders who will end U.S. support for genocide, who will fight against U.S. involvement in unjust wars, and who will instead use our nation’s resources to fight for working families: to build healthcare, childcare, and a pathway to citizenship for all.
I believe I’m best qualified to represent this district because I’ve lived the story of Queens. I’ve fought for it. And I want to defend and expand it..
2. What LGBTQ+ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
I have attended and marched in St. Pat's for All, and Queens Pride. Have attended readings and defense actions for Drag Story Hour.
3. What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBTQ+ issues, pro-choice legislation, racial justice, criminal justice have you attended, including rallies specifically against Donald Trump and his policies?
I’ve participated in St. Pat’s for All and Queens Pride multiple times. I’ve participated in the Women’s March, multiple No Kings marches, an emergency Minnesota Solidarity Rally, and vigils for Renee Good and Alex Pretti. I’ve volunteered at local food pantries in Elmhurst (Love XYZ) and Flushing (La Jornada), and I’ve organized with Central Queens Mutual Aid to provide food relief and rights education to Queens families.
4. In light of the Trump Administration’s war on women, the LGBTQ+ community, minorities and immigrants, what are your plans to organize and combat the Trump agenda?
We meet this moment with organized, relentless opposition. Inside Congress, I will fight to abolish ICE, and to pass urgent protections like the Women's Health Protection Act, the Equality Act, and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, while using oversight and the appropriations process to block abuses. Outside Congress, I’ll partner with state leaders, advocacy groups, and grassroots organizers to mobilize communities on the streets and in court to challenge the Trump agenda.
5. Will you seek or accept endorsements from individuals who oppose LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights?
Absolutely not.
6. Do you support the unrestricted right to reproductive care and abortion?
Yes.
7. Have you hosted, funded or otherwise supported Drag Story Hours in your community?
I have attended Drag Story Hour programs with my daughter. I have participated in multiple Drag Story Hour defense actions at Queens libraries in recent years. And I look forward to hosting and funding Drag Story Hour programs once in office.
8. Do you support right-wing attempts to ban the teaching of “critical race theory”?
Absolutely not.
9. How will you work to enhance protections for immigrants and uphold New York’s role as a Sanctuary City?.Abolition of ICE is my most urgent priority. That means using the appropriations process to rescind funding for officers and detention centers. It means investigating and prosecuting officers and leadership, up to and including Kristi Noem.
I will also provide full throated support for the New York For All act, to prevent local and state cooperation with ICE.
Lastly, I will organize alongside and provide funding to groups that provide mutual aid, rapid response, legal services, and know-your-rights education to vulnerable communities.
10. Do you support New York becoming a Transgender Sanctuary State?.
Yes.
11. If elected, will you commit to supporting legislation that raises taxes on the richest New Yorkers and large corporations in order to fund the services and investments our communities need?
Yes. Last month, I attended the Tax The Rich Rally hosted by the Democratic Socialists of America and marched in Albany alongside many community groups. I support taxing the rich, including higher income taxes on the highest earners, a wealth tax, and the closing of the carried interest loophole.
I support taxing the rich not just to fund government programs, but also as a positive social good to reduce inequality in our country. It is a corruption of our democracy that an elite class of billionaires and corporate executives can use their outsize wealth to buy the complacency of politicians at all levels and of both major parties.
12. How will you represent the most vulnerable, including individuals experiencing homelessness and asylum seekers? Have you ever opposed any shelter in your district?
I’ll represent the most vulnerable by fighting for material outcomes, including housing, healthcare, and legal protection. That means advocating forcefully for Medicare For All. That also means expanding Housing Choice Vouchers and supportive housing, funding shelters and services, and fixing our broken immigration system by funding legal counsel and providing work authorizations for asylum seekers.
I have never and will never oppose a shelter in my district, so long as it is built under the principles of co-governance with the community.
13. Do you oppose the death penalty?
Yes.
14. Do you support outlawing solitary confinement?
Yes.
15. Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated? Will you work to secure the release of individuals who have demonstrated sincere remorse, worked toward rehabilitation and are not deemed a threat to society?
I am committed to visiting incarcerated constituents and I will work to secure the release of individuals who have demonstrated remorse, worked toward rehabilitation, and who are not deemed a threat to society.
16. Do you commit to make applications for clemencies available to your constituency including a link to an application in a constituent newsletter? Will you submit it to our club?
Yes, I would be happy to submit any such application to the club, and I would be happy to include it in a newsletter or in other mass communications.
17. Did you rank Andrew Cuomo on your Democratic primary ballot in 2025? Who did you support for mayor in the 2025 Democratic primary and general election?
No. Brad Lander, Zohran Mamani, Zellnor Myrie were at the top of my ranked choice ballot in the primary election. I voted for Zohran Mamdani in the general election.
18. In view of the fact that Ed Koch has been documented to have caused the deaths of scores of people with AIDS, excused city council members who voted against the gay rights bill and was blatantly racist, would you support renaming the former Queensboro Bridge?
Yes.
19. Do you support naming the soon to be reconstructed 42nd street bus terminal the Bella Abzug Port Authority?
Yes.
20. If an incumbent, how did you vote on House Res. 719 “Honoring the Life and Legacy of Charles Kirk”? If not an incumbent, how would you have voted?
If I were in Congress I would have voted against House Res. 719. Charlie Kirk was a bigot and hatemonger who, though murdered in cold blood, does not deserve public adoration.
21. Do you support the immediate impeachment of Trump and other administration officials? If yes, which?
I support impeaching Donald Trump immediately, and we should also impeach: Pete Hegseth, who should be prosecuted for war crimes in Iran and the Caribbean; and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, for repeatedly obstructing the will of Congress by withholding funds that Congress has expressly appropriated. I would have also called for the impeachment of Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem, but they have already been removed from office.
22. When Democrats regain power, do you favor Justice Department prosecutions to hold Trump’s administration officials accountable for criminal offenses?
Yes.
23. Would you vote to defund ICE?
Yes. I would vote to abolish ICE, by way of the appropriations process or any other statute.
24. If an incumbent, how did you vote on House Resolution to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib? If not an incumbent, how would you have voted?
I would have voted against the resolution to censure Rashida Tlaib.
25. If an incumbent, how have you voted on allowing NSA to conduct warrantless searches? If not an incumbent, how would you vote?
I would have voted against FISA and the reauthorization of warrantless searches by the NSA.
26. If an incumbent, how did you vote on House Res 58 “Denouncing the Horrors of Socialism”? If not an incumbent, how would you have voted?
I would have voted against House Resolution 58.
27. If an incumbent, how did you house on a resolution directing the removal of all troops in foreign nations not authorized by Congress?.
I would have voted in favor of a resolution directing the removal of all troops in foreign nations not authorized by Congress.
28. Do you support allowing DC to fund its own government, including the criminal justice system, without oversight by Congress?
I support DC Statehood and would support granting it the full rights and powers of any other state in the union including the power to control its own criminal justice system, without oversight by Congress.
29. What is your legislative remedy to secure the building of low and moderate-income housing around the state?.
If elected to Congress I would repeal the Faircloth Amendment, which prevents the federal government from building any new public housing. Next, I would support federal programs to pump money into HUD to build millions of affordable, accessible public housing units at scale, across the country.
30. Will you refuse donations from AIPAC, SolidarityPAC, police and corrections associations, the fossil fuel industry, and the charter school industry?
Yes. I have never and will never accept donations from AIPAC, SolidarityPAC, police and corrections associations, fossil fuel interests, or charter school interests. I will refuse donations from all corporate PACs.
31. Do you support removing criminal penalties for consensual commercial sex work between adults?
Yes. Sex workers must also be guaranteed labor protections, access to healthcare, and workplace safety and anti-trafficking protections.
32. What additional information would you like the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club to consider when we are making our endorsement decision? .I’m just a normal guy from Queens. I don’t have a deep political network. I don’t have a long list of donors. But I am deeply proud and fiercely protective of my neighbors and our communities.
And my campaign has somehow sparked a growing movement that now includes 1300+ donations from across the country, 300+ volunteers, and 7500+ doors knocked. We are growing every day. And when we win, I hope to be bearing the Jim Owles banner alongside my own.
33. If you receive our endorsement, do you agree to identify the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club on all appropriate literature and electronic materials?
Yes.