Politics

By Jennie L. Ilustre In the 2020 elections, Joe Biden became president, helped by Asian Americans in battleground states who provided the winning margin. Vice President Kamala Harris, whose mother was South Asian American originally from India, was Biden’s running mate. In this year’s election cycle, this data-based analysis becomes relevant to her chance of victory on November 5. Remarked …

By Jennie L. Ilustre In 2020, concerns for public safety and reproductive rights led to a huge voter turnout by Americans of Asian descent. What would it be next year? The economy, jobs, healthcare, anti-Asian racism, and education–these are the top responses of both Asian American Democrats and Republicans interviewed for this article. They are also the same top concerns …

By Jennie L. Ilustre Julie Su’s confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Labor is in jeopardy, with Sen. Joe Manchin (D, West VA) declaring his opposition recently. Manchin cited Su’s “more progressive background” as a hindrance to compromise, according to NBC News. He wanted a secretary who will be a voice “for both labor and industry.”           With Senate Republicans united …

By Jennie L. Ilustre May is Asian American Heritage Month, and the community is in the mood to celebrate. Reason: The new president of the World Bank and the new head of the White House Domestic Policy Council are Americans of Asian heritage. Remarked Madalene Xuan-Trang Mielke, President & CEO of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS): …

By Jennie L. Ilustre Asian American leaders continue to express optimism for the “swift confirmation” of Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su as head of the agency–especially after a Senate committee voted along party lines on April 26 to advance her confirmation. Washington, DC – United States Deputy Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su Among the first to welcome the news …

By Jennie L. Ilustre The push is on for the swift Senate confirmation of Labor Deputy Secretary Julie Su, after President Biden nominated her to be the next Secretary of Labor. Her confirmation would make her the first Asian Pacific American (APA) in a cabinet position after two decades. Julie Su          ”Julie is a champion for workers, and she …

By Jennie L. Ilustre Congressman Ted Lieu credited his historic election as vice chair of the Democratic Caucus in Congress to an acknowledgment by his colleagues of the Asian Pacific Americans’ growing “political power.” Lieu will assume the No. 2 post when the new Congress starts on January 3 next year. In a vote among his colleagues in the House …

By Jennie L. Ilustre The community, exuding both pride and elation, is celebrating the historic victories of several Asian American men and women in the recent midterm elections. “There’s been so many exciting historic firsts from this cycle, including Aruna Miller being elected as the first South Asian Lieutenant Governor in the nation, and Nabilah Islam as the first Bangladeshi …

By Jennie L. Ilustre Finally, politicians from both parties are starting to realize the Voter Power of Asian Pacific Americans (APAs), according to top community leaders of national organizations, as well as the Mainstream Media. Jerry Vattamala, director of Democracy Program, of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), commenting on the recent midterm elections, said in an …

82 Top U.S. Firms, Civil Rights Groups Show United Support  By Jennie L. Ilustre Why are the U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings this October of great concern to all Americans, including Americans of Asian ancestry? Reason: The Supreme Court will once again decide on issues that will affect the daily lives not just of the present generation of all Americans, but of future …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   When Asian Americans cast their vote In November, what top issues will motivate them in their candidate choice? Hate crime and education? The latest Asian American Voter Survey showed the political parties’ focus on these two issues is off-base. “Our survey shows that Asian Americans are far from single-issue voters,” Christine Chen, Executive Director of …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   More Americans of Asian ancestry are headed for election victories in November at the national and state levels. A top advocate, who has always stressed that political underrepresentation remains a concern, has hailed this welcome development.   Congress State Rep. Shri Thanedar, a businessman and author, has won Michigan’s recent Democratic primary in the 13th …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   State Representative Bee Nguyen is on the verge of making history as the first Asian American elected to a statewide political office in Georgia. Nguyen handily won the Democratic primary runoff for Secretary of State in Georgia recently. She is a leading advocate for voting rights, public education, and criminal justice reform. She supports “voter …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   A bipartisan gun safety bill that will save lives will soon become part of the nation’s laws. This is good news for the country, including the Asian American community, which has seen racism alarmingly escalate during the pandemic. The 100-member Senate recently passed the “Bipartisan Safer Communities Act” by a 65 to 33 vote. A …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Asian American leaders have lauded the historic achievement of Sokhary Chau, the nation’s first Cambodian American mayor. Chau, 49, who came to America as a young refugee, has also made history on two other fronts. He is the first mayor of color of Lowell, Massachusetts. He is also Lowell’s first-ever mayor unanimously elected by the …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Asian American lawmakers, as well as advocacy leaders, have expressed hope the law mandating Asian American studies in public schools this year would help address prevailing anti-Asian racism and hate crimes. “Our Asian American and Pacific Islander community is currently battling two pandemics – COVID 19 and Hate,” said Brendan G. Flores, National Chair and …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Lawmakers and an advocacy leader have lauded the historic confirmation of Judge Lucy Koh to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Lucy Koh is the first Korean American woman federal appellate judge. The 100-member U.S. Senate voted 50-45 to confirm her on December 13. Koh, 53, was the U.S. District Judge for the …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   When the Stop AAPI Hate coalition founders started a reporting website – with the goal of tracking and responding to racist incidents against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders – they did not know it would make such a big impact on a national scale. The website quickly became the No. 1 source of authoritative data …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Michelle Wu, the first woman elected Boston mayor in 200 years, vowed “to deliver basic city services and generational change” after being sworn into office, two weeks after her historic, landslide win. Wu, the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, is also the first person of color elected as the city’s mayor. Prior to her victory, Boston …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   The historic election of three Asian Americans as mayors of Boston, Cincinnati and Seattle is huge, community leaders say. It means the nation’s fastest-growing minority is becoming “a growing political force” as well. The former Boston councilor and council president is the first woman elected the city’s mayor in 200 years. She is also the …

  By Jennie L. Ilustre   Three Americans of Asian descent are poised to make history in mayor’s races in the November elections. Community leaders, the media and surveys all foresee their victories in the nation’s three major cities. What’s also impressive? Two of the cities, Boston and Cincinnati, do not even have Asian majority population. The three candidates, Politico …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   In the future, historians will note that 2020 was the year when Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) –composed of diverse groups that have always identified themselves by their country of origin – began to achieve solidarity and political clout in the United States, which to them is home. Home, where they and their families …

Michelle Wu’s Strong Bid for Boston Mayor   By Jennie L. Ilustre   Councilor Michelle Wu took a huge step in becoming the next mayor of Boston, Massachusetts with a strong showing in the recent primary. Wu was the top vote-getter in the Boston mayoral primary, winning 33%  of the vote. She beat four other candidates for the top spot. …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Judge Florence Pan recently made history as the first female Asian American appointed to the D.C. federal court. The 100-member U.S. Senate confirmed her nomination on September 23, in a remarkably bipartisan 63 to 30 vote, a testament to their high regard for her. Pan, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford Law …