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

______________________________________________________________________________

POLL: Trump pushes AAPI electorate towards Democrats

In Georgia, Asian Americans overwhelmingly favored Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams for governor.

ASAM NEWS

A NEW PRELIMINARY Election Day exit poll of more than 7,600 Asian American voters showed that Asian Americans strongly favored Democratic candidates for Congress by wide margins in some closely contested races, reports the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF).

AALDEF’s nonpartisan poll also showed that Asian American voters disapproved of Donald Trump’s performance as president, with 65% disapproving and 21% approving.

“The racist and anti-immigrant rhetoric from Donald Trump has been deeply disturbing to Asian American voters, who overwhelmingly supported candidates who share their values of a more inclusive and diverse America,” said AALDEF executive director Margaret Fung.

Before President Obama, conventional political wisdom said that the Asian American electorate was up for grabs for the Democrats and Republicans. This survey puts to rest any doubt which direction the AAPI electorate leans. The racist rhetoric and policies of Trump seems to have the last straw to drive most AAPI voters towards the Democrats.

AALDEF sent over 600 attorneys, law students, and community volunteers to 50 cities in 14 states to document voter problems on Election Day and to conduct an exit poll of Asian American voters in English and 11 Asian languages. Those states are California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. Pollers were also sent to Washington, DC.

Likewise, the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund conducted a poll on AAPI voters the eve of Election Day, which also showed disapproval for Trump and a wide margin of support for Democrats over Republicans.

The following is AALDEF’s preliminary breakdown for some key races and local issues:

Vote for Senate:

Texas
64% for Beto O’Rourke, 

33% for Ted Cruz, 

2% other
(Cruz won 50.9% of total votes, O’Rourke 48.3%, other 0.8%)

Nevada
68% for Jackie Rosen, 

28% for Dean Heller, 

3% other
(Rosen won 50.4%, Heller 45.4%, other 4.2%)

Florida
71% for Bill Nelson, 

21% for Rick Scott, 

1% other
(Scott won 50.2%, Nelson 49.8%, other 0%, 99% reporting)

Vote for Governor:

Florida
71% for Andrew Gillum, 

22% for Ron DeSantis, 

1% other
(DeSantis won 49.7%, Gillum 49.1%, other 1.2% vote count continues)

Georgia
82% for Stacey Abrams, 

15% for Brian Kemp, 

3% other
(Kemp won 50.3%, Abrams 48.7%, other 0.9%, vote count continues)

Michigan
91% for Gretchen Whitmer, 

7% for Bill Schuette, 

1% other
(Whitmer won 53.1%, Schuette 44.0%, other 2.8%)

Ballot Propositions:

In Florida, 

Amendment 4, which re-enfranchised 1.4 million ex-felons, passed 64.5% to 35.5%, with 68% of polled Asian Americans supporting and 26% opposing.

In Massachusetts, Question 3, which upheld a state law protecting transgender people in public accommodations, passed 68% to 32%, with 74% of polled Asian Americans supporting and 13% opposing.

AALDEF found that Asian American voters faced various barriers on Election Day, which included “machine breakdowns, being directed to incorrect poll sites, denied provisional ballots and access to language assistance, and illegal demands for proof of identification and citizenship when it was not required.”

“The Asian American Exit Poll provides critical information about the Asian American electorate, including their party affiliations, issues influencing their votes in key races, and voting barriers at the polls, including improper requirements to show voter IDs or prove their citizenship and the denial of language assistance to limited English proficient voters,” said AALDEF Democracy Program Director Jerry Vattamala.
_______________________________________________________________________________

AAPI Vote 2018: Two Asian Americans elected to NY Senate

Kevin Thomas, left, and John Liu are the first Asian Americans to join New York's Senate.

ASAM NEWS

TAIWANESE AMERICAN John Liu beat out three challengers to win New York’s District 11 Senate seat, and Indian American attorney Kevin Thomas defeated Republican incumbent Kemp Hannon for the state’s District 6 Senate seat, reports HuffPost.
The two Democratic immigrants made history as the first Asian Americans elected to New York’s state senate.

Thomas told HuffPost he is “deeply honored, humbled and proud to be the first Indian American in the New York State Senate in U.S. history.”

The Massapequa Patch reported Hannon’s loss to Thomas as a “shocking upset.”

Asian Americans comprise about nine percent of New York’s population, with New York City being home to the largest population of Asian Americans of all the U.S. cities. Resonate reports that Liu is also the first Taiwan-born U.S. state senator.

Liu said to HuffPost, “It’s nice to be among the first, but we should have had Asian Americans in the state senate long ago.”

Liu immigrated to the U.S. at five years old and grew up in Flushing, Queens. He was a member of the New York City Council and the first Asian American to win citywide office. He also served as New York City’s first Asian American comptroller from 2010 to 2013.

“As with all people, the more Asian Americans understand the impact people have on government and the impact government has on people such as in matters of education, healthcare, and economic opportunity, the more Asian Americans will engage in this democracy that America is about,” said Liu.

Thomas, who immigrated to the U.S. at ten years old, was appointed to the New York State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in 2016. He is also known for his work as an attorney. He said that his experience defending student loan borrowers compelled him to run.

“When I saw what the Trump administration did to consumer protection, I knew I had to do something,” said Thomas. “I ran for office as my form of resistance. To do what I have always done, stand up for the little guy, to do what is right. As an Asian American, that is just who we are and those are the values my parents raised me with.

“I ran to represent everyone in my district and that is what I intend to do. But … I will certainly be bringing the issues of the Asian-American community to the state legislature.”

Democrat John Liu, who was born in Taiwan, won the District 11 state Senate seat on Tuesday, defeating three other challengers. Indian-American attorney Kevin Thomas, who immigrated to the U.S. when he was 10 years old, beat out Republican incumbent Kemp Hannon for the state’s District 6 Senate seat.

The wins are historic, as the pair are the very first Asian-Americans elected to New York’s state senate.

Thomas told HuffPost that he is “deeply honored, humbled and proud to be the first Indian-American in the the New York State Senate in U.S. History.”

Liu added that it’s about time.

“It’s nice to be among the first, but we should have had Asian-Americans in the state senate long ago,” he told HuffPost.

Asian Americans make up roughly 9 percent of the state’s population. New York City alone is home to the largest number of Asian Americans compared to all other U.S. cities.

Two Asian-Americans — Yuh-Line Niou (D) and Ron Kim (D) — serve in the New York State Assembly, but no politicians of Asian descent have served in the state senate prior.

Liu, who immigrated to the U.S. when he was 5 years old and grew up in Flushing, Queens, is no stranger to making history. Back in 2010, the Taiwanese-American was sworn in as New York City’s comptroller, making him the first Asian-American to occupy that role. Previously, he served as a city councilman, making him the first Asian-American to be elected to a citywide office.

“John Liu is a model for new immigrants,” John Park, president of the Korean American Community Empowerment Council said of Liu’s victory as comptroller at the time. “This is a new era.”

While Liu had made a bid for the mayoral seat, his campaign became the subject of scandal in 2013 when a federal investigation was launched into his fundraising. Liu was never charged, but his campaign treasurer Jenny Hou and a fundraiser Oliver Pan were convicted on formal wire fraud charges related to illegal donations.

_______________________________________________________________________________

AAPI Vote 2018: Wait a minute! Ballots still being counted in three races

DEMOCRATS have the majority in the House of Representatives and the Republicans retained their power in the Senate, but for three Asian American candidates, the elections are far from over.

The Nov. 6 voting was not the end for three Congressional races in Texas, California and New Jersey. The contests for Gina Ortiz Jones, Young Kim and Andy Kim  are so close that the victors won't be known until all the ballots are tallied -- including mail-ins, provisional and ballots of overseas service members. It could be several days before it's all over

GINA ORTIZ JONES

In Texas' hotly contested Congressional District 23, with all the precincts accounted for, not all the votes have been counted. There are still the mail-in ballots, ballots from military personnel overseas, and other ballots, although accounted for, have not been tallied. Despite the claim of victory by incumbent Republican Will Hurd, Democratic challenger Gina Ortiz Jones is not conceding.

With all 342 precincts reporting, Hurd received 102,903 votes compared to 102,214 for Ortiz Jones, who isn't ready to wave the white flag.

"This election is not over. Every vote matters and must be counted," Noelle Rosellini, spokeswoman for the Filipina American candidate, said in a statement Wednesday. "Gina's campaign has been powered by grassroots energy from day one, and we won't stop working until every provisional ballot, absentee ballot and military or overseas ballot has been counted."

YOUNG KIM

In the contest for California's 39th Congressional District, the post-election count could take several more days because the district spans three different counties: Orange, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino. There, Republican candidate Young Kim led Democrat candidate Gil Cisneros  split the vote, 51.3 percent to 48.7 percent, respectively, with Young leading by a only 3,871 votes on Wednesday evening.

Spokespeople from both campaigns said they had delegates monitoring the vote counts in all three counties. In Los Angeles County alone, there are at least 984,000 votes still uncounted. The campaigns said they were told that the L.A. County Registrar of Voters will count and issue updates on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Kim’s campaign didn’t comment on her narrow lead. Cisneros said he’ll be patient as results roll in.

“I will wait for the final results with our families and friends right here in the 39th District,” Cisneros said in a prepared statement. “We will let this process play out.”

ANDY KIM

In New Jersey's Congressional District 3, Andy Kim has declared victory in his hope to become the first Korean American member of Congress. But with 7,100 votes still uncounted, he has tempered his statements..

"With the vast majority of votes now in and counted, and based on the numbers we saw from Burlington County today, we have built a substantial lead," he told supporters crowded into his headquarters in a Mount Laurel office park Wednesday night. "I am proud to announce that we have won this hard-fought race."

"I promise you I will be part of that new generation of leaders that are going to step up and focus on what's best for the American people, what we can do for all of us," 

His opponent, incumbent Rep. Tom MacArthur, a two-term incumbent, has not conceded issuing a statement saying, "This has been a hard-fought campaign and like Andy Kim, I'm ready to see it come to an end." 

Kim, 36, who had never run for elected office before, was a civilian advisor to military leaders in Afghanistan and Iraq and national security aide in Democratic President Barack Obama's administration.
________________________________________________________________________________