Gene Wu

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Gene Wu

| image = Gene Wu 2.jpg

| office = Minority Leader of the Texas House of Representatives

| term_start = January 14, 2025

| term_end =

| predecessor = Trey Martinez Fischer

| successor =

| state_house1 = Texas

| district1 = 137th

| term_start1 = January 8, 2013

| term_end1 =

| predecessor1 = Scott Hochberg

| successor1 =

| birth_name = Eugene Yuanzhi Wu

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|3|23}}

| birth_place = Guangzhou, China

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic

| spouse = {{marriage|Miya Shay|2012}}

| children = 2

| education = Texas A&M University (BS)
University of Texas at Austin (MPA)
South Texas College of Law (JD)

| signature = Eugene Wu Signature.jpeg

| website = {{url|genefortexas.com|Campaign website}}
{{url|house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=137|State House website}}

}}

Eugene Yuanzhi Wu ({{zh|t=吳元之|p=Wú Yuánzhī}}) is a Chinese-American lawyer and politician who is a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives, serving since 2013. He was formerly a prosecutor for Harris County.{{cite web|title=Rep. Wu, Gene District 137|url=https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=137|publisher=Texas House of Representatives|access-date=22 November 2013}}

Early life and education

Wu was born in Guangzhou in Guangdong province, China.{{cite web |last=Zhou |first=May |title=Gene Wu: Changing the Stereotypes |url=http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2014-07/25/content_17924088.htm |publisher=China Daily USA |access-date=May 10, 2017}} Shortly after, his family immigrated to the United States, and spent time in Odessa, Texas before moving to Sharpstown, a neighborhood in Southwest Houston. He attended Ed White Elementary, Fondren Middle School, and St. Thomas Episcopal School.

Wu received his Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University, a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School for Public Affairs{{cite web|url=https://www.pdhlaw.com/attorneys/gene-wu/|title=Gene Wu|access-date=December 27, 2023}} at the University of Texas at Austin in Austin, and earned a J.D. degree from the South Texas College of Law in Houston.{{Cite web|url=http://genefortexas.com/meet-gene/|title=Meet Gene|website=Gene Wu - State Representative District 137|access-date=2016-07-13}}

Texas House of Representatives

Wu was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2012. His time as a State Representative has been focused on issues concerning education, criminal justice, public safety and child welfare. He is currently a member of the Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee, as well as the House Committee on Appropriations. Following his first legislative session he received the Sierra Club's New Leadership in Environmental Protection Award, and was also named Freshman of the Year by the Texas District and County Attorneys Association.{{Cite web|url=http://genefortexas.com/issues/|title=Issues|website=Gene Wu - State Representative District 137|access-date=2016-07-13}}

In 2024, Wu supported an executive order by Greg Abbott that ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to arrest those attempting to conduct influence operations supporting Operation Fox Hunt to coerce dissidents to return to China.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-20 |title=Rep. Gene Wu Response to Abbott's Support for Chinese Immigrant Community in Texas |url=https://cw39.com/news/texas/rep-gene-wu-response-to-abbotts-support-for-chinese-immigrant-community-in-texas/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=KIAH |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Barragán |first=James |date=2024-11-18 |title=Gov. Greg Abbott issues executive order targeting Chinese government operatives in Texas |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/18/greg-abbott-chinese-government-dissidents-operation-fox-hunt/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}

Personal life

Wu is married to Miya Shay (a reporter for ABC 13 in Houston, Texas) and has two children.

He has served as a tutor for at-risk youths in the Grad-Lab and Twilight programs at Sharpstown High School and as a mentor for adults with the nonprofit, Skills 4 Living. Wu has been a volunteer and trainer for Neighborhood Centers Inc. In that capacity, he conducts monthly workshops where he has helped several thousand Harris County residents become United States citizens.