ICYMI: AAPI Candidates Continue to Make Gains Across the Country
November 28, 2018
*ICYMI*
AAPI Candidates Continue to Make Gains Across the Country
As votes are still counted across the country, AAPI candidates continue to make history in races up and down ballot. Highlights include:
“My Linh-Thai became the first first-generation refugee to be elected to the Washington state legislature after a resounding victory in the 41st legislative district.”
“Joe Nguyen won the 34th District State Senate race and will become the state’s first Vietnamese-American legislator and the district’s first person of color to hold that seat.”
“Senator-elect Villivalam will be the first Asian-American to serve in the Illinois Senate and first Indian-American to serve in the Illinois General Assembly.”
“Indiana Young Democrats are building a deep bench of potential future stars, including Chris Chyung in District 15, who became the first Asian-American to serve in the Indiana State House.”
“Tram Nguyen ousted 18th Essex District Republican state representative Jim Lyons to become the first Vietnamese-American woman elected into the state legislature and the first ever into the House of Representatives.”
Ben Ku (GA, Gwinnett County Commission District 2)
“Ku — who beat Lynette Howard in District 2 — will be the board’s first Asian-American member, as well as its first openly gay one.”
Keunsoo “Jimmy” Chae (NJ, Dumont Borough Council)
“He’ll wear yet another starting Jan. 1, when he is sworn in to the Dumont Borough Council as the first Korean-American to ever serve on the council.”
Daniel Nguyen (OR, Lake Oswego City Council)
“Lake Oswego voters elevated the first person of color to a seat on the Lake Oswego City Council. Daniel Nguyen led all of the candidates with 20.43 percent of the vote as of Wednesday.”
Sharon Chung (IL, Mclean County Board District 7)
“Chung is believed to be the first Asian-American elected to the McLean County Board.”
Farrah Khan (CA, Irvine City Council)
“Pakistani-American Farrah Khan will be joining the Irvine City Council in California, making her the first non-white woman to do so.”
Hmong Members of the Minnesota Legislature
“There were five Hmong candidates elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives a few weeks ago which is the highest number since Hmong refugees and immigrants started arriving here in 1975. There were also two Hmong candidates elected to Ramsey County’s Second Judicial District as judges.”