Sokhary Chau: From Refugee to Historic Mayoral Leadership in Lowell
Sokhary Chau is a Cambodian-born American politician who made history in 2022 as the first person of Cambodian descent to serve as a mayor in the United States, elected by the City Council of Lowell, Massachusetts.
Born in Cambodia’s Battambang province, Chau experienced a turbulent early childhood marked by extreme hardship. On April 17, 1975, his father was executed by the Khmer Rouge. In 1979, Chau and his family escaped Cambodia, navigating dangerous jungles to reach a Thai refugee camp. In 1981, he, his mother, and seven brothers emigrated to the United States, settling in Lowell. Chau attended Lowell Public Schools and graduated from Phillips Academy in 1992 before attending Macalester College in Minnesota.
Chau’s political career began with his election to the Lowell City Council in 2019, followed by re-election in 2021. His appointment as Mayor of Lowell by the City Council in January 2022 marked a significant milestone. He also chairs the USA-Cambodia Sports Association. In November 2023, Chau announced his candidacy for the Middlesex County Register of Deeds seat, which will become vacant in 2024.