Gary Faye Locke (born January 21, 1950) is an American politician, lawyer, and former diplomat from Washington. He has held many important roles in government.

Locke was the 21st governor of Washington from 1997 to 2005. He was the first Chinese-American governor and the first Asian American governor in the continental U.S. Later, during Barack Obama's presidency, Locke served as Secretary of Commerce from 2009 to 2011. He then became the Ambassador to China from 2011 to 2014, also the first Chinese American in that role.

Before becoming governor, Locke was elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 1982. He then became the executive for King County in 1993. He was known as a moderate Democrat. After his time as governor, Locke served as the interim president of Bellevue College from 2020 to 2023.

Early Life and Education
Political Career in Washington State
- Governor of Washington
National Politics
- Secretary of Commerce
- Ambassador to China
After Being Ambassador
Personal Life
Political Views
See also

Early Life and Education

Gary Locke was born in Seattle, Washington, on January 21, 1950. He grew up in a public housing project called Yesler Terrace. His family came from Jilong village in Taishan, China.

Locke is the second of five children. His father, James Locke, was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Fifth Armored Division during World War II. His mother, Julie, was from Hong Kong. Gary's grandfather came to the United States in the 1890s. He worked as a houseboy to learn English.

Locke's father was born in China in 1917 and moved to the U.S. in 1931. Gary Locke did not learn English until he was five years old and started kindergarten.

He graduated with honors from Franklin High School in Seattle in 1968. He also earned the rank of Eagle Scout. With help from jobs, financial aid, and scholarships, Locke attended Yale University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1972. In 1975, he received his law degree from Boston University School of Law.

Political Career in Washington State

Gary Locke was inspired by Wing Luke, a Chinese American lawyer and politician from Seattle.

In 1982, Locke was elected to the Washington House of Representatives. He represented a district in South Seattle and led the Appropriations Committee. In 1993, he became the King County Executive. He won against the existing leader, Tim Hill.

Governor of Washington

In 1996, Locke won the election to become governor of Washington. This made him the first Chinese American governor in U.S. history.

During his time as governor, Locke faced economic challenges. He proposed ways to reduce spending, such as cutting funding for some state programs. He was reelected in 2000. In 2003, national Democrats chose him to respond to President George W. Bush's State of the Union address. Locke decided not to run for reelection in 2004.

National Politics

Many Democrats saw Locke as a possible choice for vice president. In 1997, he was a special guest at the State of the Union address. In 2004, he was considered for a position in the Cabinet if John Kerry had won the presidential election.

Secretary of Commerce

Locke's family waiting for President Barack Obama at the White House in 2009

In 2008, Gary Locke was considered for Secretary of the Interior in President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet. However, Ken Salazar was chosen for that role.

On February 25, 2009, Obama announced Locke as his choice for Secretary of Commerce. The Senate approved his nomination on March 24. Locke was sworn in on March 26, 2009.

Locke was the first Chinese-American Secretary of Commerce. He was one of three Asian Americans in Obama's cabinet, along with Steven Chu (Secretary of Energy) and Eric Shinseki (Secretary of Veterans Affairs). He was a well-liked member of the cabinet.

Gary Locke's official portrait for the U.S. Department of Commerce was painted by Michele Rushworth.

Ambassador to China

Chen Guangcheng (left) with Locke (center) and Kurt M. Campbell (right) at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing in 2012.

After Jon Huntsman Jr. resigned, Obama nominated Locke to be the United States Ambassador to China. The Senate approved him on July 27, 2011. Locke left his role as Secretary of Commerce on August 1.

A photo of Locke carrying his own backpack and buying his own coffee at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport became very popular in China. Many people admired his humble style. When he arrived in Beijing, Locke promised to improve cooperation and understanding between the U.S. and China.

During his time as ambassador, a Chinese activist named Chen Guangcheng escaped house arrest. He found safety at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing in April 2012. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the U.S. for an apology for its role in the event.

In November 2013, Locke announced he would step down as ambassador. He wanted to spend more time with his family in Seattle. Experts in China said Locke was a simple and honest ambassador. Max Baucus was chosen to replace Locke and was approved by the Senate.

After Being Ambassador

On February 17, 2016, Locke joined the board of AMC Theatres. On May 31, 2016, he also joined the board of PATH, a global health nonprofit in Seattle.

Locke has supported affirmative action in Washington State. He publicly supported a measure in 2019, but voters did not approve it.

In 2020, an ad for President Donald Trump's reelection incorrectly suggested Locke was part of the Chinese Communist Party.

Locke became the interim president of Bellevue College on June 15, 2020. This happened after the college's previous president resigned. He served until July 1, 2023, when David May became the permanent president.

In March 2021, some thought Locke might run for Mayor of Seattle. However, he lived outside Seattle and chose not to run. He supported Bruce Harrell, who was elected.

On November 16, 2023, Locke joined Dorsey & Whitney as a senior advisor.

Personal Life

Gary Locke's first marriage ended in the 1970s. On October 15, 1994, he married Mona Lee. She was a television reporter and a former Miss Asian America. They divorced in 2015.

The Lockes have three children: Emily Nicole (born 1997), Dylan James (born 1999), and Madeline Lee (born 2004). He is a Protestant.

Locke is proud of his Chinese background and the contributions China has made. But he also says he is "thoroughly American" and proud of American values.

Political Views

When asked about the role of Asian Americans in politics, Locke shared his thoughts:

"Asian Americans are a big part of America's success. Our grandparents came here in the 1800s to work on railroads, in lumber camps, goldmines, and canneries. They worked on farmland that seemed impossible to grow crops on. They also fought in world wars and died for our freedoms. Asian Americans have given their hard work and dedication to our communities and country. Much of the success and progress in the western states is because of Asian Americans. From doing tough jobs to fighting in wars and now contributing as doctors, researchers, tech innovators, and in many other jobs. We have every right, and even a responsibility, to help make decisions that will move our communities and our nation forward."

Gary Locke facts for kids

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