Asian Fortune Your source for all things Asian American
Jennie L. Ilustre
Two Asian Americans running for the US Congress scored impressive victories in the recent California primary and Texas runoff. The next primary with several Asian Americans as candidates takes place in Maryland on June 26.
Korean American Young Kim (R) won the most votes among nearly 20 candidates in the June 5 primary for California’s 39th congressional District. Kim garnered 27% of the total vote. She will face Gil Cisneros in the nation’s November 6 elections. Cisneros (D) placed second in the unique all-party California primary, winning 13.4 % of the vote, according to media reports.
Kim, a former California State Assemblywoman, served asdirector of community relations and Asian Affairs for retiring US Rep. Ed Royce (R). Royce, the powerful chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, endorsed her candidacy.
Remarked Kim: “I am truly humbled by the vast support that we received from across the 39th District. It is clear that voters want someone who will truly represent their voice in Congress and has a proven independent record, delivering results that matter to the people of this district.” California’s 39th District encompasses cities in northern Orange County, eastern Los Angeles County, and southwestern San Bernardino County.
Kim has a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern California, according to theSacramento Bee. She was a financial analyst with the First Interstate Bank and a controller in JK Sportswear Manufacturing.
In Texas, Gina Ortiz Jones won the runoff in the 23rd congressional district. Elated, the Board officers of KAYA Filipino Americans for Progress declared the day after the contest, “We are one step closer to having a Filipina American in Congress!”Jones is part of a growing number of veterans who have been running for office lately, many of them emerging as victors. She served in Iraq with the US Air Force intelligence unit.
In an email interview on June 7, top civil rights advocate and Manila Mail columnist Jon Melegrito of Kensington, Maryland, sized up Jones’ chances in November. “She has a 50-50 chance, according to political observers like Irene Natividad. She needs to raise more money as the incumbent has lots more funds to spend on TV. But given the blue wave and her credentials, and with more money raised in the next few months, she has a good chance of winning.”
Jones faces a formidable candidate in two-term incumbent Republican Rep. Will Hurd, Melegrito wrote in an article, “given that Hurd has a lot more money and the 23rd district leans Republican.” But Iraq War veteran Jones, he noted, “benefits from energized Democratic voters who flooded the polls in large numbers in the March primary. She garnered more than 44,000 votes, compared to about 31,000 votes in Hurd’s race.”
Among Jones’ priority issues are: job creation, strengthening the middle class; quality healthcare for all, and immigrants and the American Dream.
Win in Primary, Win in Election
In today’s politics, with a few exceptions, winning in the primaries almost certainly assures candidates of victory in the general elections. For example, if first-time Democratic candidate and frontrunner Lily Qi wins in Maryland’s Delegate primary for District 15th on June 26, that will make her the lone candidate and a sure winner in the November 6 midterm elections.
In 2016, Qi made history as the first Asian American appointed Assistant Chief Administrative Officer on economic and workforce matters in Montgomery County. Recently, The Daily Record named her among Maryland’s Top 100 Women for 2018. Qi was among the 50 candidates who received the early endorsement from The Sierra Club on October 11 last year. The Sierra Club “is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 2.4 million members and supporters nationwide.”
Kris Valderrama (D, 26th District) is likely to win in the sameJune 26 primary. Although Maryland’s current governor is a Republican, it is a reliably blue state, with a long history of voting for presidential and local candidates of the Democratic Party.
Melegrito said Valderrama “has an excellent chance of winning a fourth term,” citing her accomplishments. The women’s caucus, of which Valderrama is a member, has successfully pushed legislation over the years to fight domestic violence, human and labor trafficking and child exploitation. In 2016, the Assembly passed the Maryland’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, which Valderrama co-sponsored with Senator Susan C. Lee. The legislation is now the second strongest pay equity law nationwide, closing discriminatory pay gaps.
Other Filipino American candidates in the Maryland primary are: Liz Matory (R), who is running for the 2nd Congressional District; first-timers Ike Puzon (R), for District 26 of the Maryland State Senate; and Ernest Canlas, for Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee District 25. For more info, visit www.manilamail us.com
Positive Experience
Also in California, State Treasurer John Chiang lost in the June 5 gubernatorial primary. California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) easily won in a crowded field, and is the sure winner in theNovember 6 elections. Republican Party leaders knew this. But having John Cox in the November ballot assures their voters will be motivated to go to the polls for the other party candidates in the down ticket.
Asian Americans who fall short in their candidacies still view the experience in a positive way. State Treasurer Chiang is a fine example. Full text of his statement follows. “Growing up, our family never stopped believing in the American Dream, which is why I have always fought to make that dream a reality for all California families — that’s what this race has always been about.
“When we began this campaign two years ago, we knew it would be an uphill battle. And while we may not be able to celebrate the victory we had hoped for tonight, we built a grassroots army we can all be proud of.
“We held the other candidates accountable, put forward policies that addressed real issues, and helped lift up the voices of Californians that weren’t being heard.
“We were up against incredible odds and a flood of special interest spending that totaled nearly $30 million from outside groups, yet we still challenged the frontrunners up until the very end. We can hold our heads up high and know we never sacrificed our values because honesty and integrity matter.
“I’m proud of what we accomplished over the course of this campaign, and I hope you are too. And together, we will continue to fight for a better future for this state.
“Thank you for all your support. It means more to me than you know.”
