Surge of AAPI Candidates Seek Congressional Office in Response to Trump Assault on Immigrant Communities
Surge of AAPI Candidates Seek Congressional Office in Response to Trump Assault on Immigrant Communities
AAPI Victory Fund Highlights “Mineta XI” Candidates in High-Priority Congressional Districts
WASHINGTON—A record number of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are running for Congress to fight back against the bigoted and anti-immigrant policies of President Donald Trump. To date, at least 54 progressive AAPIs are running in the 2018 elections, with many in swing and high-priority districts that can make a difference as we head toward the 2020 presidential election. The AAPI Victory Fund has identified an initial group of 11 candidates in critical districts for whom it will focus its efforts to secure victories. In honor of the Victory Fund’s honorary chairman, former Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, this inaugural class of candidates have been dubbed the Mineta XI. The Victory Fund encourages AAPIs nationwide to pledge early support to these candidates.Frontline Incumbent Candidates
Ami Bera (CA-07) |
Stephanie Murphy (FL-07) |
True Blue Candidates
Dan Koh (MA-03) |
Aruna Miller (MD-06) |
AAPI Victory Fund Leaders
Nina Ahmad (PA-01) |
Hiral Tipirneni (AZ-08) |
Majority Makers
Andrew Janz (CA-22) |
Dave Min (CA-45) |
Gina Ortiz Jones (TX-23) |
Mai Khanh Tran (CA-39) |
Andy Kim (NJ-03) |
“There are potentially over 2 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders at risk for deportation under the aggressive Trump immigration policies. We need elected officials to stand up for us,” said Shekar Narasimhan, chair of the AAPI Victory Fund. “By strengthening our growing representation with the Mineta XI candidates, we are creating our best defense against threats to the AAPI community. To protect ourselves, we must back these candidates early, stand together and raise our collective voices.”The AAPI Victory Fund’s support of the Mineta XI candidates will build on the success it had with its previous work to increase voter turnout. Past outreach efforts have resulted in game-changing results in Wake County, NC where AAPI voter turnout was increased by 174 percent in 2016, and its work to energize turnout in Virginia and the critical Washington State Senate race in 2017.Now, more than ever, the Mineta XI candidates need our support. The Trump Administration has already begun to fulfill its campaign promise to deport millions of refugees and immigrants—including those under Temporary Protected Status. According to the Center for Migration Studies, in 2015 there were over 1.7 million “unauthorized” migrants from Asia living in the United States. There are millions more who are eligible-to-naturalize, but their citizenship applications are now in limbo.“With increased Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Congress, we will be able to combat regressive immigration policies. As a community, we need to support candidates across the country, not just in our district. Whether it is by lending your voice or donating to campaigns, please join the Victory Fund in electing more AAPI Members of Congress,” said Norman Y. Mineta, former Secretary of Transportation and Commerce and honorary chair of the AAPI Victory Fund.
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