Deukmejian was born in 1928, in New York. He moved to California in the 1950s. His father was from Ayntap, his mother from Karin, who immigrated to the United States after surviving the genocide against the Armenians. George’s aunt was a victim of the genocide.
George Deukmejian was the first Armenian governor of California, serving from 1983-1991. He took a ruthless stand against crime and human rights violations. An advocate for human rights, he even froze California’s investments in South Africa to help the anti-apartheid movement. During George W. Bush’s presidential race, he was a possible vice presidential candidate, but his candidacy was eventually rejected.