Sunday Read: Asian American politicians 'represent,' notch victories in the midterms

Despite a close vote, Andy Kim is confident that he will represent New Jersey's District 3 in Congress.

REPRESENTATION MATTERS! Asian American and Pacific Islander candidates were overwhelmingly victorious Nov. 6, 

Anyone who thought they were going to make a positive difference, who -- in their eyes -- "to make this world a better place," deserves our praise, even if you disagreed with their politics.

We should celebrate the record number of AAPI individuals who stood up to be counted and risk the attacks that come with modern day, rough and tumble politics. Everyone who ran for office is a winner as far as I'm concerned. And we should note that more than 90% of the candidates succeeded. One of the best ways to beat those who would label us "others" is to take part in part in civic life, to speak up for our beliefs and join the debates in our public squares. to determine what kind of country we want to live in.

Everyone who ran for office is a winner as far as I'm concerned. And we should note that more than 90% of the candidates succeeded. The political victories should be cheered as much  - if not more - as the pop culture breakthroughs  of Fresh Off the Boat and Crazy Rich Asians.

From the list and the Nov. 6 results, we can generally say: Democrat candidates outnumbered Republicans; GOP AAPI candidates had a tougher time getting elected.; and the majority of candidates were from three states, California, Hawaii and Washington, which voted predominantly Democrat in the Midterm elections.

Three congressional races are still too close to call: Young Kim in California's Orange County, Gina Ortiz Jones in Texas and Andy Kim in New Jersey, even though Andy Kim has already declared victory.

Here are the final results of the AAPI candidates who ran state and congressional offices on Nov. 6. Those with √ marks won a seat or were unopposed. 

UPDATED: Dec. 9 with all votes counted, the races too close to call on Nov. 6 have their final results.

Arizona
Anita Malik, (D) Congress, District 6, Arizona
Tipirneni Hiral, (D) Congress, District 8, Arizona

Arkansas
Chintan Desai, (D), Congress, 1st District

California
Kevin de Leon (D), U.S. Senate
√ Doris Matsui, (D), Congress, 6th District
√ Ami Bera, (D), Congress, 7th District
√ Ro Khanna, (D)Congress, 17th District
√ Judy Chu, (D), Congress, 27th District,
√ Ted Lieu, (D), Congress, 33rd District
Kenneth Mejia (Green), Congress, 34th District.
√ Mark Takano, (D), Congress,  41st District
√ T.J. Cox, (D) Congress, 21st District
Albert Janz, (D) Congress, 22nd District
Ammar Campa-Najja, (D) Congress, 50th District
Cristina Osmena,  Congress, (R) 14th District
David Min, Congress, (D) 45th District
Young Kim,(R) Congress, 38th District
√ betty Yee, (D) Controller
√ Fiona Ma (D) Treasurer
Harry He (D) 9th District
√ David Chiu (D) Assembly, 17th District
√ Rob Bonta (D) Assembly, 18th District
√ Phil Ting (D) Assembly, 19th District

Christina Laskowski (R) 22nd District

√ Kansan Chu (D) Assembly,  25th District

√ Evan Low (D) Assembly, 28th District

√ Vince Fong (R) Assembly, 34th District

√ Ed Chau (D) Assembly, 49th District

Kevin Hee Young Jang (D) Assembly, 53rd District

√ Al Muratsuchi (D) Assembly, 66th District

√ Steven S. Choi (R) Assembly, 68th District

√ Tyler Diep (R) Assembly, 72nd District

Philip Kim (D) State Senate, 4th District 

√ Richard Pan (D) State Senate, 6th District

Mike Eng (D) State Senate, 22nd District

Peter Choi (D) State Senate, 23rd District

√ Janet Nguyen, (R) State Senate, 34th District

Colorado
Peter Yu, (R), Congress, 2nd District

Connecticut
√ William Tong (D), Attorney General

Florida
√ Stephanie Murphy (D), Congress, 7th District
Jennifer Mijares-Zimmerman, (D) Congress, 1st District

Georgia
√ Sam Park, (D) State House, 101st District

Hawaii
√ David Ige (D), Governor
√ Mazie Hirono, (D) U.S. Senate
√ Tulsi Gabbard, (D) Congress, 2nd District
√ Kaiali'i Kahele (D) State Senate, 1st District
√ Dru Kanuha, (D) State Senate, 3rd District
√ Lorraine Inouye (D) State Senate, 4th District
Melissah Shishido (Green) State Senate, 6th District
√ Jamie Kalani English , D) State Senate, 7th District
√ Breene Harimoto , (D) State Senate, 16th District
√ Clarence Nishihara, (D) State Senate, 17th District
√ Michelle Kidani (D) State Senate, 18th District
√ Maile Shimabukuro  (D) State Senate, 21st District
√ Jarrett Keohokalole (D) State Senate, 24th District

√ Mark Nakashima (D) State House, 1st District
Grace Manipol-Larson (R) State House, 2nd District
√ Richard Onishi (D) State House, 3rd District
√ Joy San Buenaventura (D) State House, 4th District
√ Troy Hashimoto (D) State House, 8th District
Jen Kamaho'i Mather  (Green) State House, 10th District
√ Nadine Nakamura (D) State House, 14th District
√ James Tokioka (D) State House, 15th District
√ Dee Morikawa (D) State House, 16th District
Alan Yim (Lib.) State House, 17th District
√ Mark Hashem (D) State House, 18th District
√ Bert Kobayashi (D) State House, 19th District
√ Calvin Say (D) State House, 20th District
√ Scott Nishimoto (D) State House, 21st District
√ Dale Kobayashi (D) State House, 23rd District
√ Scott Saiki (D) State House, 26th District
√ Takashi Ohno (D) State House 27th District
Mela Kealoha-Lindsey (R) State House 27th District
√ John Mizuno (D) State House, 28th District
√ Linda Ichiyama (D) State House, 32nd District
√ Sam Kong (D) State House, 33rd District
√ Gregg Takayama (D) State House, 34th District
√ Roy Takumi (D) State House, 35th District
√ Rida Cabanilla (D) State House, 41st District
√ Sharon Har (D) State House, 42nd District
√ SStacelynn Kehaulani (D) State House, 43rd District
√ Cedric Asuega Gates (D) State House, 44th District
√ Lauren Kealohilani Matsumoto  (R) State House, 45th District
√ Lisa Kitagawa (D) State House, 48th District
√ Scot Matayoshi (D) State House, 49th District
Noe Galea'i (R) State House, 51st District
√ Chris Lee (D) State House, 51st District

Illinois
√ Raja Krishnamoorthi, (D) Congress, 8th District

√ Theresa Mah (D) State House, 2nd District
Peter Lee (R) State House, 17th District
Julie Cho (R) State House, 18th District

Massachusetts
Shiv Ayyadurai, (R) U.S. Senate
√ Tram Nguyen, (D), Congress, 18th Essex District

Michigan

√ Stephanie Chang, (D) State Senate, 1st District

Minnesota

√ Samantha Vang, (D) House District 40B

√ Fue Lee, (D) House District 59A
√ Kaohly Her, (D) House District 64A
√ Tou Xiong. (D) House District 53A
√ Jay Xiong, (D) House District 67B
√ Yele-Mis Yang, (R) House District 42B

Nevada
Tiffany Jones, (R) State Senate, 9th District

New Jersey

√ Andy Kim, (D) Congress, 3rd District

New Mexico

Lisa Shin (R) State House, 43rd District

New York

√ Grace Kim (D) Congress, 6th District

√ Ron Kim (D) State Assembly, 21st District
√ John Liu (D) State Senate, 11th District
Jeremy Cooney (D) State Senate, 56th District
√ Kevin Thomas (D) State Senate, 6th District

Oklahoma

√ Cyndi Munson (D), State House, 85th District

Ohio

Aftab Pureval, (D) Congress, 1st District

Pennsylvania

Pearl Kim (R), Congress, 5th District

Rhode Island

Allan Fung, (R) Governor

Texas

Gina Ortiz, (D) Congress, 23rd District

Sri Preston Kulkarni, (D) Congress, 24th District

√ Angie Chen Buttonm (R) State House, 112th District
√ Gene Wu, (D) State House, 137th District

Virginia

√ Bobby Scott (D), Congress, 3rd District

Washington

√ Pramila Jayapal (D) Congress, 7th District

√ Cindy Ryu (D) State House, 32nd District,

√ Mia Su-Ling Gregerson-Dahle (D) State House, 33rd District

Sofia Aragon, (D) State Senate, 34th District

√ Sharon Tomiko Santos (D), State House, 37th District,

√ Manka Dinghra (D), State House, 45th District

√ Vandana Slatter (D) State House, 48th District, 

√ Monica Stonier (D) State House, 49th District

√ My-Linh Thai, (D) State Senate, 41st District

√ Mona Das, (D) State Senate, 47th District

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