Committee formed to screen AAPI applicants wanting to work in a Biden administration

Confident that former Vice President Joe Biden will win the November election against Donald Trump, a committee has been created to screen AAPI individuals wishing to work for the incoming Biden administration.

AAPI Progressive Action in partnership with AAPI Victory Fund formed “AAPI 46,” a screening committee to identify, vet and recommend highly qualified Asian American and Pacific Islander candidates for positions in a potential Biden administration.

“Government functions best when its leadership reflects the diversity of our great nation,” said Chris Lu, who will act as AAPI Progressive Action Board liaison to AAPI 46. “The Steering Committee will play an important role in identifying AAPIs who will fight to create a more just and inclusive society."

Despite being the fastest growing racial group in the U.S. and a population of 23 million strong, AAPIs are underrepresented in political leadership as well as at the federal level.  

The Screening Committee will conduct a nationwide search for the top 50 candidates whose names will then be submitted to the Biden Transition. Working closely with the Boards of the AAPI Victory Fund and AAPI Progressive Action, the Committee will also make a public endorsement for these senior positions by mid-September 2020.

The Screening Committee will be co-chaired by Seema Nanda, former chief executive officer, Democratic National Committee and Mike Honda, former Congressman and founder-chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. 

Committee members include Michelle Bonoan, Managing Director, Koya Leadership Partners; Grace Choi, former White House Liaison staff, U.S. Department of State; Ankur Goel, Partner, McDermott Will & Emery; Julian Ha, Partner, Heidrick & Struggles; and Doua Thor, former Executive Director, White House Initiative on AAPIs. 

Ginger Lew, former White House executive, will serve as advisor to the Screening Committee. The Board liaisons are Luisa Blue, executive vice president, SEIU; Christopher P. Lu, former Deputy Secretary of Labor; Katie Kalvoda, founder, G3 Ventures; and Dilawar Syed, President and CEO, Lumiata. (Organizational affiliations are listed for information purposes only.)

“In January, AAPI Victory Fund was the first national AAPI organization to endorse Vice President Biden,” said Katie Kalvoda, who will act as AAPI Victory Fund Board liaison to AAPI 46. 

 “This November, the AAPI community will carry the Vice President to victory and it is critical that AAPIs are represented at the senior levels of our government once he is elected. AAPI 46 will ensure that the Biden Transition has vetted highly qualified candidates from our community to fill those positions.”

For further informatin and to submit your qualifications, link to: https://www.aapiprogressiveaction.com/aapi46.

Democrats reach out to AAPI voters; name its AAPI Political Director

SCREEN CAPTURE

John Santos is interviewed by Baliitang America TV about his recent appointment.

Recognizing the critical role Asian American and Pacific Islander voters will play in the 2020 elections, the Democratic National Committee has named a veteran political and media specialist as its liaison with AAPI communities.

John Santos was promoted to be the Asian American Pacific Islander Political Director. He was named to his new position along with African American Political Director Cyrus Garrett, and Native American Political Director Theresa Sheldon.

The trio join previously named hires Rural Political Director Libby Schneider, Labor Political Director Tucker McDonald, and Interfaith Outreach Director Dr. Derrick Harkins.

“Diversity and inclusion have always been the strength of our Democratic coalition,” said DNC Chair Tom Perez. “Now more than ever we will need a strong team that can harness the energy and excitement in our base communities to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. I am confident that the team we are building at the DNC is ready to build the coalitions we need heading into one of the most important elections of our lifetimes.”

In his new position, Santos will develop and promote the DNC’s outreach efforts to AAPI communities. 

“To me, it’s all about how do we mobilize the community, right? How do we make sure Asian Americans, Filipino Americans, are voting? And what I see is the DNC right now is the party that’s really committed to doing that,” Santos told Balitang America.

He will also serve as the liaison to the Veterans and Military Families Council. Most recently, he served as the DNC’s Western Regional Press Secretary and AAPI Media Director. Previously, he served in the U.S. Army as the Deputy Press Secretary for the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve during a year-long deployment in Kuwait and Iraq. Additionally, he previously served as the Health Policy Assistant Director for the American Legion and Chair for Communications at KAYA: Filipino Americans for Progress.

Politicians rarely target their outreach toward Asian Americans. Compared to the national average of 53 percent, only 31 percent of Asian Americans reported being contacted by candidates or parties in 2012.

The 2018 midterm elections that the Democratic National Committee invested heavily in the Asian Americans, said Santos. He said the DNC registered Asian Americans to vote, ran in-language print ads and put Asian American organizers on the ground in competitive congressional districts such as traditionally conservative Orange County in California.

Based on the results, Santos said these efforts “paid off.”

In the 2014 midterm elections, 49 percent of Asian American voters backed a Democratic House candidate, according to exit polls. In 2016, 65 percent chose Hillary Clinton over Trump. By the 2018 midterms, that number shot up to 77 percent.

Asian American voters have been trending Democratic even more under Trump, even though 40% of the voters are not registered with either party. Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies have pushed turned off the AAPI electorate, the majority of which is still first and second generation immigrants.

That voting trend could have massive implications for 2020: Not only are they one of the fastest-growing voter demographics, they’re also an increasingly pivotal one in battleground states like Virginia, Nevada, and Arizona.

According to AAPI Data, Asian American voters already make up more than 10 percent of the eligible voting population in California and Hawaii, and more than 5 percent in a slew of other states including Nevada, New Jersey, and New York.

“Building a team that reflects the diverse coalition that we need to win back the White House and the Senate is one of our priorities,” said DNC Political Director Muthoni Wambu Kraal. “I am proud of the diversity of our staff, and we are lucky to have Taylor, John, Cyrus, Theresa, Libby, Tucker, and Derrick leading our efforts in laying the groundwork to victory in 2020.”

____________________________________________________________________

Democratic National Committee will lean on Asian American to steer the party

Seema Nanda will help guide the Democratic National Committee through a critical period

AS THE PIVOTAL midterm elections head into the home stretch with perhaps the selection of a Supreme Court Justice on the immediate horizon, the Democratic National Committee is depending on an Asian American to keep its house in order.
Today (June 29), the Democratic National Committee announces Seema Nanda as Chief Executive Officer. As CEO, Nanda will manage the day-to-day operations of the organization.

“People are hurting all across our country. And I believe that Democrats are offering the positive solutions so desperately-needed right now – solutions forged by the strength of our diversity, the rigor of our ideas, and the decency of our values," said Nanda.

The first Asian American to head the DNC in recent memory, Nanda takes the reins from interim CEO, Mary Beth Cahill, in overseeing the financial and political trajectory of the DNC at a crucial moment.

Nanda served on​ DNC Chair Tom​ Perez' transition team, which took a fresh look at the ​committee's operations following the 2016 election and put in place an infrastructure​ that contributed to wins in 2017 and 2018.

Most recently, Nanda has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, where she oversees strategy and manages day-to-day operations.

Prior to that, Seema was Chief of Staff to then-Secretary Tom Perez at the U.S. Department of Labor. While at the Labor Department, she also worked as Deputy Solicitor and as Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Counselor to Perez, managing a portfolio that included immigration, workforce development, and internal management issues.

This decision was made after a five-month search led by current CEO Mary Beth Cahill, who will continue to serve the DNC through the transition and as the DNC heads into the 2018 cycle. Nanda will start later next month. 

“I’m beyond excited that Seema is bringing her talent and brilliance to the DNC,” said DNC Chair Tom Perez. “I’ve seen firsthand Seema’s exceptional ability to lead. She is a seasoned manager who has a proven track record of success and a well-documented history of fighting for our Democratic values, whether it’s on immigration, civil rights or leveling the playing field for our workers. As we head toward such a crucial election, I’m one hundred percent certain that Seema’s leadership will help the DNC capitalize on the unprecedented grassroots energy and enthusiasm surging throughout the country.”

As Asian Americans seek to find their seat at the political table, that community's vote will be crucial for a number of races throughout the country. Along with DNC vice chair Grace Meng, the congresswoman representing parts of New York, Asian American women will hold two of the top and visible positions for the Democratic Party.

Nanda is a founding member of the DC chapter of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, where she works closely with several immigrants rights and Asian American advocacy groups around Asian Pacific American issues; and a founding board member of a nonprofit in DC (Odanadi) that seeks to raise awareness and money to fight sex trafficking in India and globally.  

With immigration issues becoming a key issue in the midterm elections, the DNC is also emphasizing Nanda's past experience as head of the DOJ's Office of Immigrant and Employee Rights Section.

The Democrats are trying to generate a "blue wave" to wrest the majority in the House from the GOP by anchoring Republicans to a controversial and unpopular president, who has consistently voiced anti-immigrant policies from the Muslim travel ban to his handling of immigrants at the country's border with Mexico.

Democrats are also facing an internal reckoning on how to craft the best message for November and channel the emergence of a more progressive wing illustrated by the victory of political newcomer, 28-year old Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over seasoned and moderate Democrat incumbent Joe Crowley.

As the Center for American Women and Politics has noted, "Democratic women are the real drivers of the surge in female candidates in 2018: women are 33% of all Democratic candidates but only 14% of all Republican candidates."

“Women are not only making their voices heard, but this hire also signals that women are leading the Democratic Party, and I couldn't be prouder of that," said the DNC's communications director, Xochitl Hinojosa.

Nanda's experience also includes practicing labor and employment law and served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations.

She is a graduate of Boston College Law School and Brown University and a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association.

"This position is the opportunity of a lifetime, for which I am incredibly honored and humbled,” said Nanda, "I am grateful to Chairman Perez and Mary Beth for selecting me, and I look forward to joining my new DNC colleagues in the fight for our nation’s values and future.”
________________________________________________________________________________