Filipino American candidate wins Democratic Primary in New York City

RAGAFORQUEENS

Rep. Gregory Meeks, left, Steven Raga, center, and State Sen. John Liu at a rally for Raga in May (Photo: RagaforQueens)

Steven Raga is on the precipice of history. He won the Democratic Primary for Assembly District 30 and this November could be the first Filipino American elected to the New York state legislature. 

Raga easily won the Democratic primary Tuesday with 71% of the vote over his opponent, Ramon Cando.

“It is an honor of a lifetime to be able to advocate for my community here in #AD30,” Raga tweeted Tuesday evening.

“I am proud to be elected as the first-ever Filipino American Democratic nominee for the New York State Assembly” he wrote.

Steven Raga, a Woodside resident and former chief of staff to the incumbent Brian Barnwell, has won the Assembly District 30 seat—making him the first Filipino American to hold elected office in New York State.

When Barnwell announced he would not seek re-election Raga was picked by the Democratic committee to run for the District 30 seat.

“Like so many immigrant families from so many cultures, my family came here in the 60s and took root. It is time that we take our voice to the Assembly and that we are represented by someone who understands the spirit and the needs of this amazing community,” he said after being selected.

As the Democrats' candidate, he was endorsed by Congressmembers Gregory Meeks and Grace Meng; State Senator John Liu; Assemblymembers Catalina Cruz, Ron Kim, Andrew Hevesi and Khaleel Anderson; Borough President Donovan Richards, Councilmember Shekar Krishnan and District Leader Melissa Sklarz.

As the election results showed Raga's certain victory, Meng tweeted: “We did it! We helped elect the first Filipino American ever in the state of NY!!!”

Born in Queens, New York, Raga has a long record as a community advocate. He was executive director of Queens On the Move before declaring his candidacy. Earlier he was the Northeast Regional Manager for Policy and Advocacy for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and served as Barwell's chief of staff for four years.

He is also on the board of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations and the founder of Pilipino American Unity for Progress (UniPro).

Assembly District 30 is one of the most diverse in the state and is majority Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). It encompasses the neighborhoods of Woodside, Elmhurst, Sunnyside and Maspeth where many Filipinos reside.

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