Historic Minnesota election triples number of Asian American state lawmakers

Representative Fue Lee (top) and Minnesota Representatives-elect (from left) Samantha Vang, Tou Xiong, Jay Xiong and Kaohly Her. They will be part of the Minnesota Asian Pacific Caucus along with Senator Foung Hawj.

THE NOV. 6 ELECTION of the largest class of Asian Americans to the Minnesota State Legislature in history was one of the most significant outcomes of the 2018 midterm elections in the Midwest.

The number of Asian Americans serving in the State Senate and House tripled from 2 to 6 members, enough to have a collective voice on critical issues.

As a result, the newly elected Asian American State Representatives and new Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Fue Lee (D-Minneapolis) announced Dec. 18 that they are forming the Minnesota Asian Pacific (MAP) Caucus during Minnesota’s 91st legislative session.

“The primary purpose of the MAP Caucus is to be a visible, engaged and collective voice in addressing the needs and interests of all Minnesotans as well as the diverse Asian Pacific American communities. Our aim is to increase equity, access, and participation in all levels of governance in the State of Minnesota,” said MAP Caucus Chair and Representative-elect Samantha Vang (D – Brooklyn Center).

“The 2018 mid-term election was historic. Minnesotans elected five Representatives of Asian descent. Minnesotans embraced the notion that diverse representation brings about new thinking, ideas, and solutions," said Vice Chair of the MAP Caucus Kaohly Her (D – St. Paul).

“Asian Pacific Minnesotans make up about 5% of the overall Minnesota population, but only about 3% of its legislative body, so we have a ways to go. The MAP Caucus is a first step in the right direction in putting all of Minnesotans’ concerns on the map,” added MAP Caucus member and Representative-elect Jay Xiong (D – St. Paul).

Rep. Fue Lee, who was the only Asian American in the State House in his first term, was recently elected Assistant Majority Leader by his DFL colleagues and this session he will be joined by newcomers Representatives-elect Samantha Vang (D-Brooklyn Center), Tou Xiong (DFL-Maplewood), Kaohly Her (D-St. Paul), and  Jay Xiong (D-St. Paul). That increases the number of Representatives of Hmong descent in the Minnesota House to five. 

Senator Foung Hawj (D-St. Paul) is the only Asian American member of the Minnesota Senate.

 “Our Asian-Pacific communities in Minnesota are diverse but they have many shared goals," said Lee. "We will be working together to bring greater focus to good jobs, strong schools, affordable healthcare and stronger investments in the success of future generations of Minnesotans in every community throughout our state, and especially the communities that have sent us here to represent them at the Capitol.”

Vang added that the history-making election also energized a newly engaged group of voters of Asian descent whose voices will continue to be heard.
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