UPDATED: May 5, 2012

The number of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) challengers running for US Congress shot from 8 in 2010 to a record 25 declared candidates for the 2012 election, so far.

AAPI communities are the fastest growing population in America, according the US Census. This historic number candidates running for US Congress shows the rapid growth of AAPI political engagement as well.

The South Asian population doubled in size in the last ten years. This mirrors trends in political participation as over one third of the congressional candidates are South Asian.

There is also emergence of candidates in areas other than the Western region of the US and US Territories. While Hawai’i and the West Coast continue to flood congressional races with AAPI challengers, we are seeing more AAPI congressional challengers, in the Midwest and the South. For example, two AAPI candidates are faced each other in the primary for Illinois’s 8th District: Tammy Duckworth and Raja Krishnamoorthi, with Duckworth victorious.

On partisan diversity, there are currently three Republican candidates in the mix: Joe Chow (CAND, TX-06), Charles Djou (CAND, HI-01), and Ranjit “Ricky” Gill (CAND, CA-11). Today, there is only one AAPI Republican serving in the US Congress, namely Rep. Steve Austria (OH-07).

Notably, AAPI candidates are also looking up the political pipeline for the 2012 election. US Rep. Mazie Hirono (HI-02) and State Rep. William Tong (CT-147) declared to run for their respective US Senate seats, though Tong pulled out of his Senate race. 

This rapid growth of AAPI candidates builds upon legacies of AAPI leaders like US Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, founder of both the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and APAICS. Just four decades ago, San Jose elected US Secretary Mineta as the first AAPI mayor of a major US city.

Today, CAPAC members are rising in leadership ranks. US Sen. Daniel K. Inouye serves as the Senate president pro tempore, third in line of succession to the US presidency. CAPAC Executive Board member, US Rep. Xavier Becerra (CA-31) was recently appointed to serve on the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also referred to as the “Super Committee.” US Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15) who served as CAPAC Chair for seven years, currently sits on two influential House committees: the Appropriations and Budget Committees.

US Rep. Judy Chu (CA-32), the first Chinese American woman serving in Congress, continues this legacy by forging new paths and further strengthening our voice as CAPAC Chair. APAICS looks forward to continuing our work with CAPAC in the coming years. APAICS is proud to have an alumni of both the APAICS internship and fellowship programs, Gene Kim, serving as CAPAC executive director.

In addition to national elected offices, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal won his reelection to a second term. He and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley are the two current AAPI governors in the US.

Lastly, AAPI leaders are also making history in major continental US cities. San Francisco, with AAPIs making up a third of its population, elected its first AAPI mayor, Edwin Lee.

APAICS alumni also saw continued success. APAICS Leadership Academy alumna Mayor Lisa Wong won her reelection in Fitchburg to her third term as the first AAPI female mayor in Massachusetts. Earlier this year in March, APAICS intern alumni Mark Pulido was elected as the first Filipino City Council Member in Cerritos, CA.

The growing political engagement of AAPIs is fueling the community’s influence at all levels of the political process throughout America. APAICS is proud to continue its work in developing our community’s future political leaders.

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The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) is a national non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting Asian Pacific American participation and representation at all levels of the political process, from community service to elected office. Founded in 1994 by former Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, APAICS serves as a resource to Congress and the general public on issues related to the political advancement of Asian Pacific Americans.   

APAICS February 2012 newsletter

In 2007, Lisa Wong launched her distinguished career in public service by becoming the first minority mayor of the City of Fitchburg, and the first female Asian American mayor in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Mayor Wong’s innovative leadership has been instrumental in economic restructuring, environmental affairs, and redevelopment projects for the City of Fitchburg. 

Mayor Wong was one of seven participants of the APAICS Leadership Academy for Elected Officials in 2010. “APAICS was instrumental in giving me a foundation for understanding national politics,” says Mayor Wong. “I still strongly believe that all politics is local, and that government officials on the state, federal or international level who understand that are the most successful and impactful.”

Mayor Wong has been able to lower crime, make significant capital improvements, and attract private investment. She is also a leader in conservation efforts, setting aside over 1,700 acres for permanent conservation and building parks and trails along the Nashua River.

Mayor Wong grew up in Massachusetts and attended Boston University where she received a dual bachelor’s degree in international relations and economics, and master’s degree in economics. She began working for the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority in 2001 and became the agency’s executive director in 2004. As director, she managed several urban renewal projects to revitalize Fitchburg, such as the redevelopment of a former General Electric facility into a modern business complex.

Mayor Wong has seen her hard work come into fruition with her recent reelection for a third term as mayor of Fitchburg. Mayor Wong’s close reelection continues to strengthen the AAPI leadership pipeline and reinforces the need for civic engagement from Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.

The APAICS Leadership Academy for Elected Officials was established in 1999 to provide AAPI elected officials with the skills and resources needed to excel in their current office as well as preparing them for opportunities to advance into higher office. The APAICS Leadership Academy brings together a bipartisan group of promising AAPI political leaders from state legislatures, city councils, and local governing bodies all across the country. Over 90 elected officials have participated in the Leadership Academy since its inception.

“Being an APAICS alumni gave me more confidence that my political career will not end with local government, and that there is a strong support network with APAICS to pursue further goals.”

For more information about the APAICS Leadership Academy or to sign up for this year’s Academy, contact APAICS program director at lmohib@apaics.org.

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APAICS February 2012 newsletter

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities are making great political strides in New Orleans and in the Gulf Coast. Louisiana is home of one of two AAPI governors: Governor Bobby Jindal. Joseph Anh Cao’s term in the U.S. Congress has emboldened new generations of Southeast Asian community leaders in New Orleans and beyond, who are making their voices heard on behalf of the AAPI fisher folk impacted by the oil spill. Earlier this month, Bernardette D’Souza, an Indian American longtime legal aid attorney won a special election for the city’s first family court judgeship that she helped to create.

For more information, contact the APAICS Program Director at lmohib@apaics.org or (202) 296-9200.

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APAICS February 2012 newsletter

On February 2, 2012, two photographs of Fred Korematsu (1919-2005) were unveiled in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery’s historic exhibit, The Struggle for Justice. APAICS Administrator of Finance and Development Helen Ruggiero attended the ceremony and recounts the commemoration.

It was an exciting time to be a part of the Fred Korematsu celebration, especially since he is the first featured Asian American in the exhibition. Fred’s photographs and lifelong commitment to justice were recognized alongside fellow legendary civil rights leaders like Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, César Chávez, Thurgood Marshall, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
 
The room swelled with pride as Fred’s family and other Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) leaders gathered to pay tribute to his life.  Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-32) and CAPAC Chair Emeritus Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15) spoke about Korematsu’s courage to stand up to the injustice of Japanese American internment camps during WWII. Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-05) spoke about how her husband, Rep. Bob Matsui (1941-2005), and Fred were steadfast in their support to advance all communities facing injustice. Former Secretary Norman Mineta shared stories about working with Fred on Capitol Hill to ensure that Japanese American internees received redress and reparations from the U.S. government.

It was also touching to hear Karen Korematsu, Fred’s daughter and co-founder of the Korematsu Institute, share stories from her childhood and how her father’s arrest and decision to challenge the legality of the internment camps had a rippling effect on her and the rest of our country.
 
Fred’s bravery to always speak up during times of injustice, reminds us of our inner strength as well as the beauty of America’s diversity. The unveiling made me feel proud to be an honorary AAPI. We can all learn from Fred Korematsu’s life and always remember to speak up against injustice.

 

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APAICS February 2012 newsletter

Earlier this month, the Congressional Asian Pacific Caucus (CAPAC)  welcomed ten new associate members representing districts of California,  Washington, New York, and Maryland. In all, there are now 40 members of the caucus, a historic high for dues paying membership.

“As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, it is my pleasure to welcome our latest CAPAC members to the caucus,” said Rep.  Judy Chu (CA-32) in the CAPAC press release. “Their commitment to serving as a voice for Asians Americans and Pacific Islanders, as well as the many diverse communities who call our great nation home, will strengthen CAPAC’s ability to fight for fair and equal treatment for all Americans. I am grateful for their dedication to our cause, and look forward to their contributions to our ever-growing community.”

CAPAC is comprised of Members of Congress of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and members who have a strong dedication to promoting the well-being of the AAPI community. Currently chaired by Congresswoman Judy Chu, CAPAC has been addressing the needs of the AAPI community in all areas of American life since it was founded in 1994 by APAICS’s founder, Secretary Norman Y. Mineta.

“I look forward to working with CAPAC’s newest members,” said APAICS President and CEO Gloria Chan,  a former executive director of CAPAC. “Led by Rep. Judy Chu, the caucus is a strong voice on behalf of our underserved communities in the halls of Congress. The growing caucus reflects our expanding influence of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities across the nation.”

The new CAPAC members are Representatives Karen Bass (CA-33), Howard Berman (CA-28), Susan Davis (CA-53), Janice Hahn (CA-36), Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-14), Grace Napolitano (CA-38), Linda Sanchez (CA-39), Adam Schiff (CA-29), Adam Smith (WA-09), and Chris Van Hollen (MD-08).

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Yielding the floor: Asian Pacific Americans in Congress Series

The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) is honored to be in association with the United States Historical Society (USCHS) and the Library of Congress in presenting the Yielding the Floor: Asian Pacific Americans in Congress Series. This series captures the history of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Members of Congress and serves as an archive of their significant achievements, committed leadership, and personal stories of public service. These first-hand accounts are an invaluable resource for all individuals to learn about the contributions of AAPIs in shaping America’s political and cultural landscape.

The series brings to light the unique challenges and accomplishments of AAPI Members of Congress. Secy. Norman Y. Mineta, a highly respected AAPI elected official who devoted his life and career to public service recounts his time as U.S. Representative of California as well as his pivotal role as Secretary of Transportation during the nation’s response to terrorist attacks on September 11, 2011. The series also captures Senator Daniel K. Inouye’s historic contributions serving in the military during WWII and Senator Daniel K. Akaka’s leadership in gaining federal recognition for Native Hawaiians, among other accomplishments. Also, Eni F. Faleomavaega talks about his experiences as the congressional delegate of American Samoa, and in particular, the importance of family and the significance of his tattoo in the Samoan culture.

The AAPI community has made significant progress in building its political presence.

In the 112th, there was a record high of 13 AAPI Members of Congress. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), a non-partisan and bi-cameral caucus of Members of Congress of AAPI descent or Members dedicated to promoting the needs of the AAPI community continues to establish an influential presence on Capitol Hill since its inception in 1994. CAPAC was founded and chaired by Secretary Mineta and is now chaired by Rep. Judy Chu (CA-32).

This Yielding the Floor series allows AAPI Members of Congress to recount their historic experiences through oral history, similar to the manner that many of our ancestors passed along their rich traditions and cultural practices for centuries past.

For more information on the series, view this clip with MSNBC’s News Anchor Richard Lui here: http://bit.ly/YTFAPACongress.

APAICS hosts Mayors Reception in Washington, D.C. with featured guest Mayor Ed Lee

On January 18, 2012, AAPI legendary lawmakers like APAICS founder, Secy. Norman Mineta, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-32), and U.S. Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15) gathered for the APAICS Mayors Reception in Washington, D.C. at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) to recognize AAPI mayors and featured guest, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee.

Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang and Fremont Mayor Pro Tem Anu Natarajan were in attendance along with two APAICS Leadership Academy alumni, namely Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, and West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon, also attended the reception to celebrate the political feat of the AAPI community.

At the APAICS Mayors Reception, supporters of the AAPI community were able to meet with AAPI lawmakers and fellow leaders. Mayor Ed Lee, shared personal stories of his path to public service and what it means to be the first elected AAPI mayor of San Francisco. Mayor Lee noted his dedication to a career in public service is grounded in life experiences like his family’s contributions in building the railroads across America.

For more pictures of the APAICS Mayor Reception, click this link: http://t.co/TCcClDx4. 

Now accepting applications for 2012 - 2013 fellowship programs

APAICS Fellowship Program

The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) currently is accepting applicants for its 2012 - 2013 fellowship in Washington, D.C.
APAICS is a non-partisan, non-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) participation and representation at all levels of the political process, from community service to elected office. The APAICS Fellowship Program offers full-time legislative and public policy fellowships in Washington, D.C.

Since 1997, the APAICS Fellowship Program aims to build leadership skills, encourage political civic engagement, and foster a strong interest in public service careers.

For more information and to apply for the APAICS 2012-2013 Fellowship Program, follow this link: http://bit.ly/APAICS2012Fellowship.

For questions regarding the fellowship, contact APAICS Program Director at fellowship@apaics.org or (202) 296-9200.  

AREAA Housing Fellowship Program

The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) and the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) is currently accepting applications for a housing fellowship program, which they have jointly created to provide fellows with the unique professional and educational experience of serving as full-time staff in the U.S. Congress. The fellowship was established to develop a pipeline of leaders who are dedicated to addressing the diverse housing and community development needs of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.
APAICS thanks AREAA for supporting this housing fellowship.

Founded in 2003, the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) is a nonprofit professional trade organization dedicated to promoting sustainable homeownership opportunities in Asian American communities by creating a powerful national voice for housing and real estate professionals that serve this dynamic market.
 
The application and details are available online at http://bit.ly/AREAAFellowship; the deadline is March 1, 2012.
 
For more information regarding the fellowship, contact APAICS Program Director at AREAAFellowship@apaics.org or (202) 296-9200.

APAICS Alumni spotlight: Gregg Orton promoted to Legislative Director for U.S. Rep. Al Green

Gregg Orton (NAR Fellow, 2008) currently serves as Legislative Director for Congressman Al Green (TX-09). He is responsible for working with his legislative staff and overseeing the Congressman’s legislative agenda. Congressman Green is an active member on the House Committee on Financial Services, where he is involved in deliberations ranging from Dodd-Frank implementation to housing finance reform. Congressman Green also serves as the Housing Taskforce Chair for the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), where he helps shape the Caucus’s work on housing issues.

Gregg joined Congressman Green’s office in 2008 as the APAICS National Association of Realtors (NAR) Fellow. Working with the Congressman’s legislative staff, Gregg worked closely on low-income housing issues. Upon completion of his fellowship, Gregg accepted a position as a Legislative Assistant in Congressman Green’s office.

Gregg also serves as the House Vice-President of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Staff Association (CAPASA). CAPASA is a nonpartisan, non-profit staff association aimed at building a pipeline on the Hill for AAPI staffers through professional development and mentoring.

“I’m truly grateful for the opportunity and experience APAICS provided me through the fellowship program. I am proud to be a part of an organization that is building an AAPI pipeline in American politics here in the nation’s capitol.”

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The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) is a national non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting Asian Pacific American participation and representation at all levels of the political process, from community service to elected office. Founded in 1994 by former Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, APAICS serves as a resource to Congress and the general public on issues related to the political advancement of Asian Pacific Americans.

New trends in Asian American Political Action: A conversation with Professor James Lai The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community has turned a new chapter in its political history. A record nineteen declared AAPI candidates are running for US Congress, a rapid increase from just eight candidates in 2010. This political tipping point reflects the growth of the AAPI community as the fastest-growing and most diverse racial group in the country.

Earlier this year, James S. Lai, associate professor of Political Science and Ethnic Studies at Santa Clara University, published his timely book, “Asian American Poltical Action: Suburban Transformation” (2011, Lynne Rienner Publishers). In this book. Dr. Lai analyzes how suburbs serve as political incubators for Asian American candidates.

We posed the following questions to Dr. Lai to gain insight on the growing trend of AAPIs running for elected office and to learn about his groundbreaking work on today’s AAPI political landscape. 

What prompted you to look beyond traditional gateway communities (e.g. Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York) for Asian American community formation and political participation? As a scholar of Asian American politics, I witnessed the growth of new immigrant communities in suburbs throughout the nation. Yet, despite this growth, no one in my field was paying any attention to these new immigrant suburbs and the role that Asian American immigrants played in changing the social and political institutions in them. As the long-time editor (with UCLA Professor Don T. Nakanishi) of the National Asian Pacific American Political Almanac, I could clearly see that local Asian American candidates were being elected not in metropolises such as Los Angeles or New York City, but in small and medium-sized suburbs namely, Garden Grove (CA), Cupertino (CA), Bellevue (WA), Sugar Land (TX), and Eau Claire (WI). Given all of this, my goal in writing this book was to shed light on where and how recent Asian immigrants are forming communities and changing the city’s culture, but also how they are changing the local politics in these cities. 

Was there anything that surprised you in your research? Absolutely. Some political scientists argue that Asian American political participation will increase as the U.S. born generations become more heavily involved. In many of the ten suburbs that I examined in the book, the political pioneers who ran and won as the first Asian American elected officials were often immigrant-born Asian Americans. Many of them expressed to me that they wanted to give back to their communities.

Mustafa Tameez, a Houston-based political consultant, told me that he was not surprised of this trend because many of these immigrants arrive in the U.S. as graduate students, refugees, etc. with no or little social networks and limited under these challenging circumstances. This classic “rags to riches” narrative translates very well in the political arena. Still, I found it extremely intriguing given the old argument among political scientists that greater Asian American presence in electoral politics, outside of Hawai’i, would have to wait for the subsequent U.S.-born generation. I was happy and excited to see that future was already happening in these suburbs with the political pioneers often being from the immigrant generation.

In your view, what are the major political challenges our AAPI officials are facing?
There are many political challenges. One of the central themes of my book is that context and location matters when discussing Asian American politics today. 

Asian Americans are able to rise in political office much more quickly in new immigrant suburbs than in the traditional metropolises. These suburbs serve as “political incubators” for Asian American elected officials to advance “horizontally” at the local level (city council, mayor, city commissions) and “vertically” (successful local candidates who run for state-level offices).

Some challenges in larger metropolises include the presence of entrenched political machines that make it extremely hard for new immigrant groups to gain political power. Other challenges include the fact that Asian Americans tend to be more residentially dispersed in the larger metropolises.

Perhaps the most vivid example is the 2011 election of San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. Why did it take so long for Asian Americans to have the first elected Asian American mayor despite the fact that one in three San Franciscans is of Asian or Pacific Islander descent according to the 2010 census? 

In the suburbs that I examine in my book, Asian American candidates are not only getting elected a decade or two earlier than in San Francisco, but they are also becoming majorities in their legislative bodies. For example, in 2010, there were two Asian American majority city councils on the continental U.S., namely Westminster and Cupertino in California. 

However, this doesn’t mean that candidates running in these suburbs have it easy. In the suburbs, candidates must traverse complex and subtle racial and ethnic fault-lines that have developed due to drastic demographic changes, and that have resulted in a new white-flight and perceived threat. 

In addition, in mature immigrant suburbs, new paradigms are emerging within the Asian American majority communities as well. Ethnic voters are becoming more sophisticated in the issues that they advocate. For example, Asian American electorates may prefer candidates speak a particular Asian language, or have a certain stance on Asian ethnic language schools.

Any advice on how to overcome them? My advice for Asian American candidates is to keep an open mind and continue to learn. A successful candidate must be consciously aware of the subtle and explicit racial dynamics in a multi-racial city that is undergoing rapid demographic transformations. She or he must study the issues that matter for multiple racial communities, as well as issues that matter to the mainstream community. A successful political strategy is one that both addresses the needs of his or her pan-ethnic coalition of voters, and that also resonates with a broader mainstream audience. 

An overwhelming number of successful local Asian American candidates that I interviewed in the book ran that I refer to as a “two-tiered” campaign that outreached both to the White constituents and to the multi-ethnic constituents. Often times these messages about the issues were distinct and calibrated to a particular audience. 

Sometimes, as I pointed out in one of the case studies in my book, an ethnic candidate will try to keep the two messages separate and distinct, but if one message gets translated to an unintended constituency, it can be used against that candidate by those individuals concerned about whether the candidate is only out to serve their ethnic community or the larger community. In this specific situation, a Chinese American candidate running for city council in an Asian American majority suburb was advocating in Mandarin at a Chinese forum the reason why he was running was to give Chinese Americans greater representation in a city where they were under-represented. The quote ran in a Chinese newspaper but was later translated in English to a concerned and high-profile individual in the community that used it to question the underlying reason for the candidate’s campaign in the open letters section of a mainstream newspaper. The candidate who was at the center of the political storm never overcame the quote despite his clarification of the intended meaning of his quote and several retractions of the actual quote by the ethnic newspaper. 

Tell us your story. What inspired you to be an academic voice for the AAPI community?
My story began as an undergraduate at UC Davis majoring in political science and minoring in Asian American Studies. The two fields were overlapping and complimentary in many ways, but at that time, there were no courses or sources (books, articles) that spoke to Asian American politics specifically. This later inspired me to get my Ph.D. in political science and an M.A. in Asian American Studies so that I could help develop the political scholarship of the nation’s fastest growing racial group. To me, my teaching and research on Asian American politics has always been about trying to fill this void and making it assessable to those in the Asian American community.

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2010 Midterm Election Results

Asian American and Pacific Islander Members of Congress

Asian American and Pacific Islander Congressional Challengers

Other Asian American and Pacific Islander Candidates

Asian American and Pacific Islander State House Candidates

[1:25 PM EST]

As election results and news pour in from around the country, APAICS staff will liveblog on a bipartisan slate of AAPI candidates, focusing mainly on:

- All AAPI Members currently serving in Congress
- The eight AAPI Congressional challengers
- Key state level races, including Nikki Haley in South Carolina, Kamala Harris in California, and several state assembly races

Some of these candidates are expected to cruise to victory, others are longshots, and several are in this year’s most competitive races. Two of the most vulnerable Members of the House of Representatives are AAPI Republicans, Anh “Joseph” Cao (R-LA) and Charles Kong Djou (R-HI). Two of the top Congressional challengers this year are South Asian Democratic physicians taking on GOP incumbents: Dr. Ami Bera in California and Dr. Manan Trivedi in Pennsylvania.

We will post up a full slate of candidates we’re tracking later on in the day. And for any readers who haven’t already, please remember to vote.

[2:24 PM EST]

A look at the AAPI incumbents in Congress:

There are currently 14 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders serving in the U.S. Congress.

Three are in the Senate: Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), and Sen. John Ensign (R-NV). Sen. Inouye is the only one up for re-election in 2010, and he is expected to win by a large margin. Assuming Democrats retain control of the U.S. Senate, Sen. Inouye will remain as its President pro tempore.

On the House side, two of the AAPI Members are Delegates: Rep. Eni Faleomavaega of American Samoa and Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The remaining 9 members of the House are:

Steve Austria (R-OH)
Anh “Joseph” Cao (R-LA)
Judy Chu (D-CA)
Charles Kong Djou (R-HI)
Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Mike Honda (D-CA)
Doris Matsui (D-CA)
Robert “Bobby” Scott (D-VA)
David Wu (D-OR)

Only three of these Members are considered vulnerable: Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao (R-LA), Rep. Charles Djou (R-HI), and Rep. David Wu (D-OR). According to the latest race analysis from the non-partisan Cook Political Report, Rep. Cao is the most vulnerable, Rep. Wu is relatively safe, and Rep. Djou’s race is a toss up.

In the case of Rep. Charles Djou, his challenger is another AAPI candidate, Hawaii State Senator Colleen Hanabusa.

[3:15 PM EST]

A look at the AAPI Congressional Challengers:

This year, there are eight AAPI Congressional challengers who have won their primaries and are on the ballot for November 2.

Dr. Ami Bera Democrat (CA-3) Running against: Rep. Dan Lungren (R)	Colleen Hanabusa Democrat (HI-1) Running against: Rep. Charles Djou (R)	Hansen Clarke Democrat (MI-13) Running against: John Hauler (R)	Raj Goyle Democrat (KS-4) Running against: Mike Pompeo (R)
Ravi Sangisetty Democrat (LA-3) Running against: Jeff Landry (R)	Manan Trivedi Democrat (PA-6) Running against: Rep. Jim Gerlach (R)	Van Tran Republican (CA-47) Running against: Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D)	Surya Yalamanchili Democrat (OH-2) Running against: Rep. Jean Schmidt (R)

Of these candidates, only Hansen Clarke is expected to have a smooth path to victory. If he wins, he will become the first Bangladeshi American to serve in the U.S. Congress.

Four of the remaining candidates (Bera, Hanabusa, Trivedi, Tran) are expected to be in competitive races. Of these, Hanabusa’s is expected to be the closest, with Bera, Trivedi, and Tran facing slightly more uphill battles.

Cook Political Report Breakdown (November 1, 2010)

[4:31 PM EST]

Other key races to watch

Nikki Haley
Republican, Running for Governor of South Carolina

The most prominent AAPI political candidate of the 2010 campaign cycle, Nikki Haley is a Republican State Representative of South Asian descent who is the front runner to succeed Mark Sanford as Governor of South Carolina. A rising star in the Republican party, she won her primary after receiving high profile endorsements from Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney and has been mentioned as a possible long-shot contender for the 2010 GOP Presidential field.  If elected, she would become the state’s first female governor, and join Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal as the second Indian American governor of a southern state.

Kamala Harris
Democrat, Running for Attorney General of California

In 2003, Kamala Harris became the first woman District Attorney of San Francisco and the first African American woman and South Asian woman to hold the office in California. Often referred to as the female Barack Obama, her victory would make her the first female, the first African-American, and the first Asian-American attorney general in California.

Other

APAICS will be following the Hawaii gubernatorial race as well as a handful of state legislature candidates, including BJ Pak (R) in Georgia, Cindy Ryu (D) in Washington, and several new candidates in California and Maryland.

[8:24 PM EST]

Results are now flooding in from a lot of the races we’re tracking. We’ll be launching a separate post shortly with a table listing all the latest stats for each candidate on our slate. For now:

South Carolina

The NYTimes shows Vince Shaheen with a slight lead over Nikki Haley in the S.C. Governor’s race (5% reporting)

5% reporting

Georgia

Korean American Assembly Candidate B.J. Pak has 73.4% of the vote with 6% of his precincts reporting.

Ohio

South Asian Congressional candidate Surya Yalamanchili trails in Ohio’s 2nd District

Precincts: 1% | Updated: 8:22 PM ET | Source: AP

Virginia

Rep. Bobby Scott has won his re-election bid with 67.29% of the vote (66% of precincts reporting).

There’s a lot more coming in. Stay tuned.

[8:40 PM EST]

Ohio

Filipino American Rep. Steve Austria has been declared the winner in his re-election bid (OH-7).

South Carolina

Gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley is just about tied with Vincent Shaheen with 17% reporting

17% reporting

[9:22 PM EST]

More polls closed. More results coming in.

Ohio

With 20% of precincts reporting, Yalamanchili is beaten by Schmidt.

Pennsylvania

Numbers are finally coming in from PA-6. Trivedi trails slightly with 5% reporting.

Precincts: 5% | Updated: 9:13 PM ET | Source: AP

Michigan

Only 1% reporting so far in Hansen Clarke’s race.

Precincts: 1% | Updated: 9:17 PM ET | Source: AP

[9:48 PM EST]

Everything on the news seems to be painting a pretty bleak picture for the Democrats.

On another note, we finally have something to start with on the two Louisiana Congressional races:

Also, checking in on our other races:

South Carolina

Haley leads slightly with 53% reporting.

Governor58% reporting

Georgia

State Assembly candidate BJ Pak is still ahead with 71% of the vote (20% reporting).

Michigan

Hansen Clarke has moved way ahead with 20% reporting and has already declared victory.

Precincts: 21% | Updated: 9:48 PM ET | Source: AP

Kansas

Raj Goyle trails with 6% reporting.

Precincts: 6% | Updated: 9:47 PM ET | Source: AP

[10:24 PM EST]

Hansen Clarke has won and will become the first Bangladeshi American to serve in the U.S. Congress. He currently has 83% of the votes with 40% of all precincts reporting.

We also just launched a table showing the latest numbers for each of the candidates we’re tracking. You can see it here: http://bit.ly/AAPIresults2010

Other updates:

South Carolina

Nikki Haley has a slight lead with 69% reporting.

Governor69% reporting

Pennsylvania

Trivedi still trails with 23% reporting.

Precincts: 23% | Updated: 10:13 PM ET | Source: AP

Kansas

Goyle’s campaign is falling behind in KS-4.

Precincts: 17% | Updated: 10:13 PM ET | Source: AP

Louisiana

Both Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao and Ravi Sangisetty appear destined to lose their House races.

[10:34 PM EST]

As predicted, both Louisiana candidates (Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao and Ravi Sangisetty) have been defeated.

The situation looks equally bleak for Raj Goyle in Kansas, who currently holds 36% of the vote with 41% of all precincts reporting.

Pennsylvania

Dr. Trivedi in PA-6 is evenly matched with Rep. Gerlach with 28% of all precincts reporting.

Precincts: 28% | Updated: 10:33 PM ET | Source: AP

South Carolina

Nikki Haley is pulling ahead with 77% of all precincts reporting.

Governor77% reporting

[10:51 PM EST]

Nikki Haley has been declared the winner in South Carolina, a historic first for the state.

Polls are also about to close on the West Coast, which means we’ll have a lot to sort through on the second half of our slate. The tally so far:

Wins: Nikki Haley, Hansen Clarke, Steve Austria, Bobby Scott

Losses: Anh “Joseph” Cao, Ravi Sangisetty, Surya Yalamanchili

The two remaining Congressional candidates outside of the West Coast and Hawaii are not looking too strong right now.

Trivedi has 44% of the vote with 62% reporting.

Goyle has 36% of the vote with 48% reporting.

[11:27 PM EST]

We’re going to hold for a bit as we wait for more data from the West Coast to come in. For now, we can add two more South Asian Congressional candidates, Manan Trivedi and Raj Goyle, to the list of losses.

Updated tally:

Wins: Nikki Haley, Hansen Clarke, Steve Austria, Bobby Scott

Losses: Anh “Joseph” Cao, Ravi Sangisetty, Surya Yalamanchili, Raj Goyle, Manan Trivedi

[12:31 AM EST]

On the West Coast, incumbent Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) have largely cruised to victory. Rep. David Wu won in Oregon, and both Rep. Mike Honda and Rep. Doris Matsui have won in California, with Rep. Judy Chu well positioned to follow suit.

The two California Congressional challengers, Ami Bera and Van Tran, are facing tougher races. Bera trails the incumbent with 53% of precincts reporting, while Tran is evenly tied (though with only 1% reporting).

Precincts: 53% | Updated: 12:24 AM ET | Source: AP

Precincts: 1% | Updated: 12:24 AM ET | Source: AP

Lastly, Kamala Harris remains slightly behind the frontrunner in the CA Attorney General race with 18% of all precincts reporting.

[1:26 AM EST]

Haven’t seen much new official info from CA or Hawaii. However, the Hawaii Star Advertiser did send this out over their twitter feed:

“1st printout: Inouye up 73-20; Hanabusa up 51-44; Abercerombie/Schatz up 58-41”

[WRAP-UP]

It’s been a long, interesting night. The GOP have gained control of the House of Representatives, two AAPI incumbent Members of Congress have lost their seats, and two AAPI challengers have won.

California

Both Congressional challengers in California, Bera and Tran, lost their races.

Precincts: 100% | Updated: 12:17 PM ET | Source: AP

Precincts: 100% | Updated: 12:17 PM ET | Source: AP

In another race, Attorney General Kamala Harris still holds a razor thin lead, but the race is too close to call.

Hawaii

As expected, Senator Inouye and Rep. Mazie Hirono easily won re-election. Neil Abercrombie, a former Member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, is now Governor of Hawaii.

The real race to watch in Hawaii was the battle for the 1st Congressional district between State Senator Colleen Hanabusa and recently elected Rep. Charles Djou. Hanabusa prevailed in this race with 53.2% of the vote to Djou’s 46.8% (100% reporting).

—

We’re still following up on some state level races as well as waiting to hear on Kamala Harris. For now, APAICS extends a warm congratulations to the two newest AAPI Members of Congress: Hansen Clarke and Colleen Hanabusa!

1. ACCESSING THE DATABASE

The database is located on our website: APAICS.org.  

Towards the upper right of the home page is the “Resources” tab.  Move the mouse over to the “Resources” tab and then click the “APA Political Database” link that appears just below.  It also can be reached directly at APAICS.org/database.

2. CHOOSING THE TYPE OF DATABASE

There are two different databases: one of APA elected officials (blue), and one of APA political candidates (red).  To alternate between the two, simply click the “SHOW” field in the upper left corner of the table and choose between “Elected Officials” and “Candidates for office.”

Note: Elected Officials running for re-election are not listed in the “Candidates” database. The “Candidates for Office” Database only lists candidates running for a new office.

3. SORTING THE TABLE

Across the top of the database table are four main column-labels: “First Name,” “Last Name,” “State,” and “Position.”

Clicking a column-label once will sort based on that column, and will do so in ascending alphabetical order (A-Z).  Click the same label again to sort in descending alphabetical order (Z-A).

4. USING THE BASIC FILTERS

There are two basic filters located across the top of the database table: “State” and “Party”.

By clicking either one, a drop-down menu will appear, and from it you can choose a specific state or party.  Once a filter is clicked, that filter is automatically applied, and the table will display only the relevant APA officials.

You may choose to use only one filter or both.  If you choose to use both, the two filters will act together.

5. USING THE SEARCH FUNCTION

The search function allows you to search entire profiles for specific names or keywords.  Simply type what you are looking for in the search bar and click the “>>” button or hit “Enter” on your keyboard.

If there are filters chosen, the table will search only within the relevant officials.

6. USING THE ADVANCED SEARCH FUNCTION

Below the search bar is the option to use the “Advanced Search”.  By clicking this option, a list of four additional filters appears: “Gender,” “Ethnicity,” “Level” (Local/State/Federal), and “Status” (Current/Former).

These are used in the same way as the other filters. Simply click the box beside whichever filter you want to specify, choose from the drop-down menu, and then click the “>>” button.  You can also use the advanced search without actually typing anything into the search box. This gives you freedom to choose additional filters without having to know an APA official’s exact name, position, etc.

7. RESETTING THE TABLE TO SHOW ALL APA OFFICIALS

Resetting the table easily allows you to remove all filters, showing the full, default list of APA officials.  You can reset the table by clicking “RESET FILTER” in the upper right corner of the database.

8. REPORTING CORRECTIONS/SUGGESTING ADDITIONS

If there is anything that is missing/incorrect, or if there is an APA elected official that you would like to suggest be put into the database, please contact Gene Kim at Gene@apaics.org.