List of American politicians of Armenian descent explained

This article is the list of Armenian American politicians, officeholders and party chairpersons.

Bold indicates incumbent officeholders.

Note: persons are classified by chronological order

Federal government

Cabinet officials

NamePositionTook officeLeft officePresident(s)
Secretary of the Treasury23 July 1850 6 March 1853 Millard Fillmore
Secretary of the Navy1 September 1967 24 January 1969 Lyndon B. Johnson[1]
Assistant Attorney General
for the Internal Security Division		7 November 1970March 1972Richard Nixon[2] [3]
7 September 2021 30 June 2023Joe Biden
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy
in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy		September 2022Joe Biden[4] [5]

Executive Office of the President

Members of Congress

NamePartyStateYears
Senate
WhigOhio1845–50
House of Representatives
WhigOhio1830–40
1859–61
RepublicanNew York1953–65
DemocratIndiana1977–82
RepublicanCalifornia1979–91
DemocratCalifornia1993–
RepublicanNew York1999–2007
DemocratCalifornia2008–23
DemocratNew York2019–21

Federal Judicial

NamePositionDates
Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California1985–2005[15]
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois2003–2018[16] [17]

State government

Governors

NameStatePartyYears
OhioWhig1840–42
CaliforniaRepublican1983–91

Other state officials

NamePartyPositionYears
RepublicanCalifornia Attorney General1979–83
DemocraticSecretary of the State of Connecticut1983–91
DemocraticOregon Commissioner of Labor2008–19[18]
DemocraticMassachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development2014–15[19]
DemocraticMiddlesex County Sheriff, Massachusetts 2011–[20]

State Judicial

NamePositionYears
Justice of the New York Supreme Court1969–81
Los Angeles County District Attorney1982–84[21] [22]
Justice of the Supreme Court of California1990–96
1991–2015
Judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court2018–[23]
Judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court2018–[24]
Zaven V. SinanianJudge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court 2002–
Kaye TertzagJudge of Wayne County Circuit Court1987–2004

Legislature

Lower

NamePartyState Years
RepublicanCalifornia1962–1967
DemocratCalifornia1965–1974
(speaker 1971–1974)		[25] [26]
DemocraticMassachusetts1967–1991
(speaker 1985–1991)
RepublicanNew Jersey1982–1996
(speaker 1992–1996)
DemocraticCalifornia1986–1996
RepublicanCalifornia1994–1998
RepublicanCalifornia1994–2000
DemocraticMassachusetts1995–2008
DemocraticMassachusetts1997–2011
DemocraticCalifornia2000–2004
RepublicanIllinois2002–2009[27] [28]
RepublicanCalifornia2002–2008
DemocraticOregon2003–2007
DemocraticCalifornia 2006–2010
RepublicanCalifornia2010–2016
RepublicanMinnesota2011–2013
DemocraticMaine2012–2020
(speaker 2016–2020)
DemocraticCalifornia 2012–
RepublicanNew Hampshire2012–
RepublicanNew Hampshire2012–2016
DemocraticRhode Island2013–[29]
RepublicanNew Hampshire2016–
DemocraticMaryland2019–
DemocraticMichigan2019–

Upper

NamePartyState Years
DemocraticCalifornia1966–1974
(majority leader 1971–1974)
RepublicanCalifornia 1967–1979
DemocraticCalifornia1998–2006
DemocraticOregon2007–2008
RepublicanCalifornia1998–2006
DemocraticCalifornia2004–2012
DemocratSouth Carolina2018–[30] [31]

Municipal government

Mayors

NameCityYears
Waukegan, Illinois1957–77
1985–89
Lodi, California1958–59
1962–64
Phoenix, Arizona1960–64
Peabody, Massachusetts1978–2001
Lodi, California1979–80
Waukegan, Illinois1989–93
Kenosha, Wisconsin1992–2008
2016–2024
Pasadena, California1995–97
Warwick, Rhode Island2000–18
Troy, New York2004–12
Lodi, California2009–10
2013–14
Visalia, California2011–13
South Pasadena, California2013–14
2018–19
2014–15
Mayors of Glendale, California[32]
NameYears
1986–87
1990–91
1993–94
1997–98
2002–03
2005–06
2004–05
2007–08
2010–11
2015–16
2019–20
2014–15
2018–19
2017–18
2020–21
2022–23
2024-25

Other

Foreign service

Ambassadors

See also: Ambassadors of the United States.

NamePositionYearsPresident(s)
1861–64
1988–91[34]
1991–93
1993–94
William A. Stanton
2005–06 [35]
2009–12
Nina Hachigian
Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2014–17 [36]
Special Representative for Subnational Diplomacy 2022–
Deputy Chief of Mission/Deputy Permanent Representative to the U.S. Mission to the OSCE2017–2020

Others

United States Foreign Service

Other political figures

See also

References

Notes
Citations

Notes and References

  1. News: Arakelian . Leeza . US Warship Commissioned in Honor of Armenian-American, Paul Ignatius . . 31 July 2019 . https://archive.today/20201206093557/https://armenianweekly.com/2019/07/31/us-warship-commissioned-in-honor-of-armenian-american-paul-ignatius/ . 6 December 2020 . 6 December 2020 . live .
  2. News: Martin . Douglas . Robert Mardian, 82, Nixon Campaign Lawyer, Dies . . 22 July 2006 . His father was an Armenian refugee from what had been the Ottoman Empire....
  3. Web site: Socialist Workers Party v. Attorney General of U.S. . casetext.com . https://archive.today/20201206121633/https://casetext.com/case/socialist-workers-party-v-attorney-general-of-us-2 . 6 December 2020 . Mardian was Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Internal Security Division of the Department of Justice from 7 November 1970 until March 1972. . 6 December 2020 . live .
  4. Web site: Statement of Jeffrey Marootian . energy.senate.gov . Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate . https://web.archive.org/web/20230816215040/https://www.energy.senate.gov/services/files/0FA55078-8795-4CA1-A071-05B43CE7152E . 16 August 2023 . 17 November 2022 . My great grandparents came to this country from Armenia.
  5. Web site: Jeff Marootian . energy.gov . https://web.archive.org/web/20240219065817/https://www.energy.gov/eere/person/jeff-marootian . 19 February 2024.
  6. Web site: Persons . history.state.gov . https://web.archive.org/web/20231203154543/https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1981-88v01/persons . 3 December 2023 . Director, White House Office of Speechwriting and Deputy Assistant to the President from November 17, 1981, until September 1983.
  7. News: Merry . Robert W. . Robert W. Merry . Remembering Aram Bakshian . . 17 October 2022 . https://archive.today/20230813111436/https://www.theamericanconservative.com/remembering-aram-bakshian/ . 13 August 2023 . joined the Ronald Reagan White House as director of the speechwriting team.
  8. News: President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris Announce Additional Members of White House Staff . buildbackbetter.gov . President-Elect Joe Biden: Official Transition Website . 15 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210116154215/https://buildbackbetter.gov/press-releases/president-elect-joe-biden-and-vice-president-elect-kamala-harris-announce-additional-members-of-white-house-staff-5/ . 16 January 2021.
  9. News: Ghazanchyan . Siranush . Biden names Armenian American Ike Hajinazarian as Regional Communications Director at White House . armradio.am . . 16 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210116154657/https://en.armradio.am/2021/01/16/biden-names-armenian-american-ike-hajinazarian-as-regional-communications-director-at-white-house/ . 16 January 2021.
  10. News: Lazo . Luz . D.C. transportation director leaving to join Biden administration's climate team . . 15 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210117123344if_/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/jeff-marootian-biden/2021/01/14/06220d4c-5672-11eb-a08b-f1381ef3d207_story.html . 17 January 2021.
  11. News: Ghazanchyan . Siranush . Armenian American Jeff Marootian joins Joe Biden's climate team . armradio.am . . 17 January 2021 . https://archive.today/20210117123526/https://en.armradio.am/2021/01/17/armenian-american-jeff-marootian-joins-joe-bidens-climate-team/ . 17 January 2021 . 17 January 2021 . live .
  12. Web site: Arrival Message from Amb. John N. Nkengasong, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy . state.gov . U.S. Department of State . https://web.archive.org/web/20230516000608/https://www.state.gov/arrival-message-from-amb-john-n-nkengasong-u-s-global-aids-coordinator-and-special-representative-for-global-health-diplomacy/ . 16 May 2023 . 13 June 2022 . Jirair Ratevosian will serve as Acting Chief of Staff..
  13. News: Haddad . Simha . Queer, Armenian, global health leader; now political candidate . Los Angeles Blade . 25 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230602115650/https://www.losangelesblade.com/2023/05/25/queer-armenian-global-health-leader-now-political-candidate/ . 2 June 2023.
  14. News: Arakelian . Leeza . Jirair Ratevosian tapped for US State Department role . . 30 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230515234146/https://armenianweekly.com/2021/08/30/jirair-ratevosian-tapped-for-us-state-department-role/ . 15 May 2023 . A son of immigrants from Lebanon and Armenia....
  15. Web site: Hon. Dickran M. Tevrizian, Jr. (Ret.) . lacounty.gov . Los Angeles County: Citizens' Commission on Jail Violence . https://web.archive.org/web/20210224235613/https://ccjv.lacounty.gov/dickran-m-tevrizian/ . 24 February 2021 . He is the first Armenian-American to have served as a Federal Judge in the history of the United States..
  16. Web site: Samuel Der-Yeghiayan to Speak at Franklin Pierce Commencement . Bar News . . https://web.archive.org/web/20170325023934/https://www.nhbar.org/publications/display-news-issue.asp?id=2306 . 25 March 2017 . 20 May 2005 . The Honorable Samuel Der-Yeghiayan is the first Armenian immigrant....
  17. Web site: After Distinguished Career, Judge Der-Yeghiayan to Retire . uscourts.gov . United States District Court . https://web.archive.org/web/20210825204654/https://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/_assets/_news/JudgeDer-YeghiayanToRetireV2.pdf . 25 August 2021 . 18 December 2017 . Born in Aleppo, Syria, to Armenian parents, Judge Der-Yeghiayan....
  18. Web site: Brad Avakian. My Civil Rights Story. 19 September 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130922001359/http://www.mycivilrightsstory.net/My_Civil_Rights_Story/About_Brad.html. 22 September 2013.
  19. News: Kaprielian Appointed Registrar of Motor Vehicles. 28 December 2012. 30 May 2008. Armenian Mirror-Spectator.
  20. News: Matos. Alejandra. Armenian Heritage Park opens to honor immigrants. 28 December 2012. 22 May 2012. The Boston Globe.
  21. Web site: Office History . da.lacounty.gov . Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office . https://web.archive.org/web/20210818185949/https://da.lacounty.gov/about/history?page=3 . 18 August 2021.
  22. News: Ofgang . Kenneth . Ex-District Attorney Earns Respect as Advocate, Advisor, and Activist . . 14 January 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201021045258/http://www.metnews.com/articles/2008/philibosian011408.htm . 21 October 2020 . Much has been made of the fact that Philibosian and Deukmejian share an Armenian heritage....
  23. Web site: Armenian Bar Association's Michael Amerian and Amy Ashvanian Appointed to the California Judicial Bench . armenianbar.org . Armenian Bar Association . https://web.archive.org/web/20210127095538/https://armenianbar.org/2018/02/28/armenian-bar-associations-michael-amerian-and-amy-ashvanian-appointed-to-the-california-judicial-bench/ . 27 January 2021 . 28 February 2018.
  24. News: Keushkerian . Kevork . Meet Judge Armenui Amy Ashvanian . . 8 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190808200043/https://mirrorspectator.com/2019/08/08/meet-judge-armenui-amy-avshanian/ . 8 August 2019.
  25. Burbank . Garin . Governor Reagan and California Welfare Reform: The Grand Compromise of 1971 . California History . Fall 1991 . 70 . 3 . 281 . . 10.2307/25158570 . 25158570 . ...Moretti was a superb legislative leader. He was the son of immigrant parents: his father was an Italian-born chef, his mother Armenian..
  26. Book: Cannon . Lou . Lou Cannon . Governor Reagan: His Rise To Power . 2003 . . 9781586480301 . 354 . His [Moretti's] father was born in Italy, and his mother was of Armenian descent..
  27. Web site: Ruth Munson . Twitter . https://archive.today/20210920101210/https://twitter.com/ruthmunson?lang=en . 20 September 2021 . My grandparents survived the Armenian Genocide. . 20 September 2021 . live .
  28. Web site: Shirley Nordigian . ilga.gov . Illinois General Assembly . https://archive.today/20210920101138/https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=84&GA=97&DocTypeId=HR&DocNum=673&GAID=11&LegID=62703&SpecSess=&Session= . 20 September 2021 . ...former State Representative Ruth Munson... . 20 September 2021 . live .
  29. News: Gregg . Katherine . Shekarchi elevates Kazarian, Ackerman to leadership roles in House . . 11 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211001175317/https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/11/shekarchi-elevates-kazarian-ackerman-leadership-roles-house/6626172002/ . 1 October 2021 . With eight great-grandparents who survived the Armenian Genocide of 1915, she and her family have been very active in Rhode Island’s Armenian community..
  30. News: Korecki . Natasha . Natasha Korecki . 'Of course it's genocide': How Biden fulfilled a promise to Armenians that Obama wouldn't . . 24 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210916180907/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/24/biden-armenia-genocide-484544 . 16 September 2021 . Harpootlian, a South Carolina state senator and former Democratic party chair who is also of Armenian descent....
  31. News: Sanford's Ataturk reference draws fire from Armenians . . (via Associated Press) . 25 January 2003 . https://archive.today/20210916180538/https://www.goupstate.com/article/NC/20030125/News/605148148/SJ . 16 September 2021 . ...state Democratic Party chairman Dick Harpootlian, also of Armenian descent. . 16 September 2021 . live .
  32. Web site: Mayors' Gallery . glendaleca.gov . City of Glendale, CA . https://web.archive.org/web/20220508143154/https://www.glendaleca.gov/government/city-hall/mayors-gallery . 8 May 2022.
  33. Web site: Ambassador Nina Hachigian . lamayor.org . City of Los Angeles . https://web.archive.org/web/20220621022846/https://sdg.lamayor.org/about/meet-team . 21 June 2022.
  34. Web site: Ambassador Djerejian speaks at American University of Armenia . bakerinstitute.org . . https://archive.today/20201214165218/https://www.bakerinstitute.org/ambassador-djerejian-speaks-at-american-university/ . 14 December 2020 . 28 April 2016 . He briefly introduced himself as the son of an Armenian Genocide survivor and noted that his native language is Armenian. . 14 December 2020 . live .
  35. News: 多元、機會 許一個美國夢…AIT處長司徒文開講 . Diversity, opportunity and dream an American Dream... a speech by AIT Director William Stanton . Kuang-tsi Wang (王光慈) . . 11 July 2010 . A14.
  36. Web site: Naming Ambassador Nina Hachigian as Special Representative for Subnational Diplomacy . state.gov . . https://web.archive.org/web/20221004231116/https://www.state.gov/naming-ambassador-nina-hachigian-as-special-representative-for-subnational-diplomacy/ . 4 October 2022 . 3 October 2022.
  37. Joerg . W. L. G. . Memoir of Leon Dominian . . December 1936 . 26 . 4 . 197–198 . 10.1080/00045603609357153 .
  38. Web site: Retired Foreign Service Officer Edward Alexander to Deliver 12th Annual Vardanants Day Armenian Lecture . loc.gov . . https://web.archive.org/web/20210129052004/https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-05-077/alexander-to-deliver-12th-annual-vardanants-day-armenian-lecture/2005-03-24/ . 29 January 2021 . 24 March 2005 . Born in 1920 in New York City of Armenian parents [...] During one tour in Washington, he was appointed deputy director for the Soviet Union and East Europe....
  39. Web site: In Memoriam: Edward Alexander (1920–2023) ~ NAASR Lecturer and Member, Diplomat, and Author . naasr.org . National Association for Armenian Studies and. Research (NAASR) . https://web.archive.org/web/20231117024156/https://naasr.org/blogs/news/in-memoriam-edward-alexander-1920-2023-naasr-lecturer-and-member-diplomat-and-author . 17 November 2023 . 5 October 2023.
  40. News: Barry Zorthian dies at 90; U.S. diplomat and press spokesman in Vietnam War . . . https://web.archive.org/web/20171010104443/http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-barry-zorthian-20110102-story.html . 10 October 2017.
  41. News: Hevesi . Dennis . Edward N. Costikyan, Adviser to New York Politicians, Is Dead at 87 . . 23 June 2012 . His father, Mihran, an Armenian immigrant from Turkey, was a rug merchant..
  42. Web site: Campbell . Colin . Attorney Announces Campaign Against Nydia Velázquez . observer.com . . https://web.archive.org/web/20201201063121/https://observer.com/2013/02/attorney-announces-campaign-against-nydia-velazquez/ . 1 December 2020 . 14 February 2013 . I am a proud American with diverse roots ranging from Armenian to English, Irish and Scottish descent..
  43. News: Collins . Peter B. . Peter B. Collins . In-Depth Interview: Journalist Terry Phillips Explains the New War Over Nagorno-Karabakh . The Peter B. Collins Show . 15 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210127235108/https://www.peterbcollins.com/2020/10/15/in-depth-interview-journalist-terry-phillips-explains-the-new-war-over-nagorno-karabakh/ . 27 January 2021 . With his Greek-Armenian heritage....
  44. Web site: Arakelian . Leeza . 30 August 2021 . Jirair Ratevosian tapped for US State Department role . 28 May 2023 . The Armenian Weekly.

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