Iwen Chu holds a Master of Arts in Sociology from Brooklyn College and graduated from Shih Hsin University. After moving to New York, Chu has held various roles, including serving as Chief of Staff to a former State Assemblymember and reporting for World Journal. Chu has also been active in community boards and education councils. In 2022, Chu ran for the New York State Senate, winning in the 17th district, but lost the re-election bid in 2024. Currently, Chu is exploring a run for an undeclared state office.

Iwen Chu's political identity is marked by a distinctive blend of regional pragmatism and ideological assertiveness. Her tenure as Chief of Staff and her role as a panelist for The New York Times highlight a calculated approach to policy, balancing local needs with broader political realities. Chu's critique of Zohran Mamdani’s spending policy reveals a keen eye for fiscal responsibility, suggesting a potential tension between her support for community-focused initiatives and a wariness of expansive, untargeted expenditures. This juxtaposition invites deeper inquiry into how she reconciles these seemingly divergent priorities in her policymaking.