AAAFund & Over 170 AAPI Leaders Call on Joe Biden to Consider Asian American Senators as Vice Presidential Nominee
More than 170 prominent Asian American leaders and elected officials urge Biden to consider making history by selecting Senators Tammy Duckworth or Kamala Harris as his Vice President
Washington D.C., May 22, 2020: The Asian American Action Fund (AAAFund), a national PAC dedicated to electing progressive Asian Americans to public office, is releasing a letter today calling on Vice President Joseph R. Biden, presumptive presidential nominee of the Democratic Party, to select an Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) woman as his running mate for the 2020 election.
The statement, signed by more than 170 prominent AAPI leaders and organizations, including 32 current and former elected officials from Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida and dozen other states, was sent to the Biden campaign and the campaign’s Vice Presidential Selection Committee today on Friday, May 22. Two United States Senators of Asian American descent, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Kamala Harris of California, are reportedly major contenders under consideration by the selection committee.
“As leaders in the AAPI community, we recommend Vice President Biden to strongly consider one of the two excellent AAPI candidates as his Vice Presidential running mate — U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Kamala Harris. As we all know, this choice would be a historic first, during an especially tumultuous time for Asian American Pacific Islanders. This decision will help galvanize the AAPI community as we look to November — and beyond,” said Paul Tiao, Co-Founder ofAAAFund.
AAAFund and allies across the country are throwing their full support behind these two extremely qualified leaders, and trust that both women would, in the nation’s second highest office, represent the Asian American and Pacific Islander community with dignity and respect. Senator Duckworth, a veteran of the Iraq War who lost her legs in combat, and Senator Harris, who ran a historic campaign for the presidency herself, have been fighting for American families throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Together, they co-sponsored a resolution denouncing the rise in anti-Asian hate incidents associated with the Trump administration’s mishandling of the pandemic. Both are respective “firsts” in their offices — Duckworth as the first Thai-American woman, and Harris as the first South Asian woman elected to the United States Senate.
The full text of the letter is here. (To add your name to this letter, go to: bit.ly/letteraapivp)
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Dear Vice President Biden,
We, the undersigned, are Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) leaders who have come together to urge you to select an AAPI woman as your Vice-Presidential running mate — namely, Senators Tammy Duckworth or Kamala Harris.
AAPIs are proud immigrants and children of immigrants, some having set foot on this land one generation ago and others, five generations ago. We represent our ancestors’ wildest dreams, living in the land of opportunity they risked so much to realize. We come from many different countries and cultures but share the same love for the United States of America, our home. We work hard, pumping more than $1 trillion into the American economy every year, and we employ more than 3.6 million Americans through the original start-ups — small businesses. More than two million of us are on the frontlines fighting COVID-19 as essential workers, protecting our fellow Americans’ lives.
Despite our contributions to this country, AAPIs are still seen as foreign. We are not represented or recognized at the top levels of power. Recently troubling is that more than 1,600 anti-Asian incidents — physical and verbal attacks — have been reported since the outbreak of COVID-19. This is likely an undercount as many victims are reluctant to come forward. We have a chance to stem the tide of this racist wave in November.
AAPIs are the fastest growing population in the United States and the key to victory in many swing states come Election Day. AAPI voters can provide the margin of victory in pivotal swing states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, totaling over half a million voters: President Trump won these states by only 77,744 votes in 2016. We would be remiss to lose an opportunity to prove to AAPIs across the country that they are represented, that they have a voice, and that they are valued. Senators Duckworth and Harris are the strongest running mates to do so.
Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL, ret. Lieutenant Colonel) is a proven leader who would be a historic choice. Her entire career is a series of “firsts”: one of the first women to serve in combat, the first Thai-American elected to Congress, the first disabled woman elected to the Senate, and the first Senator to give birth while in office. Amongst all her “firsts” is a common thread: Senator Duckworth is the American dream, personified. She is the daughter of an immigrant and a United States Army veteran who grew up on food stamps and lived out of a motel, and whose grit and perseverance bussing tables and hustling through college on Pell Grants helped her support her family and graduate to serve her country. Senator Duckworth lost both her legs serving our nation in Iraq and took her passion to serve to the United States Senate as one of America’s highest-ranking working moms, elevating issues that matter to so many working parents to the highest levels of national dialogue and legislation.
Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA), familiar to many in the country given her own campaign for President, has a proven track record and would be ready to be Vice President on day one. We have seen firsthand that her level-headedness and sharp debate skills can help to keep Trump accountable when it matters most. She was the first South Asian woman elected California Attorney General. She was the first South Asian woman elected to the United States Senate, and one of only three AAPI United States Senators. She is a daughter of immigrants whose parents met during the civil rights movement and with that spirit, she is leading a Senate resolution to denounce hate crimes against Asian Americans. Her Asian American and African American roots can help secure those crucial voting blocs and, as a member of the AAPI community, Senator Harris understands the unique and wide-ranging concerns our diverse population faces.
We urge you and your selection committee to strongly consider these unique and forceful leaders. They understand the struggles facing AAPI families — struggles not unlike the struggles of other Americans — and they know how to advance opportunities for the most vulnerable in our society.
It’s time we are on the right side of history. It’s time for strong leadership that looks like the America that so many of our ancestors fought, bled, and died for. It’s time for one of our own to represent and preserve our place in the collective American dream — and in turn, a more just society.
Yours in solidarity,
(Institutional affiliations for identification only)
Colleen Hanabusa, Former Member of Congress, Hawai’i
Michael Honda, Former Member of Congress, California
M. Osman Siddique, Former Ambassador to the Republic of Fiji, the Republic of Nauru, the Kingdom of Tonga and Kingdom of Tuvalu, Department of State
Douglas Chin, Former Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, Former Attorney General of Hawaii
David Chiu, Assemblymember, California State Assembly, & Chair, CA APIA Legislative Caucus
Brandon Elefante, Councilmember, City of Honolulu
Sharon Har, State Representative, Hawaii State Legislature
Riki Hokama, Councilmember, Maui County, Former Council Chair, Former President of NACO, Former State Delegate Hawaii Constitution 1978, Member of Hawaii State Association of Counties, Board Director on the National Association of Counties, Member of the International Association of Assessment Officials
Randy Iwase, Former Honolulu City Councilmember, Hawaii State Senator, Chair of the Hawaii Labor Relations Appeals Board, and Chair Hawaii Public Utilities Commission,
Mark Keam, State Legislator, Virginia House of Delegates
Farrah Khan, Councilmember, City of Irvine, California
Michelle Kidani, Vice President, Hawaii State Senate
Ann Kobayashi, Councilmember, City of Honolulu
Ronald Kouchi, President and Senator, Hawaii State Senate
Régine Biscoe Lee, Senator, Guam Legislature
Susan Lee, Senator, Maryland State Senate
Henry Lo, Councilmember, City of Monterey Park, California
Evan Low, Assemblymember, California State Assembly
Harris Mahedavi, Loudoun County School Board Member, Loudoun County Democrats, Virginia
Victor Manalo, Former Mayor, City of Artesia, California
John Mizuno, State Representative, Hawaii State Legislature
Dee Morikawa, Majority Floor Leader, Hawaii State Legislature
Takashi Ohno, State Representative, Hawaii State Legislature
Blake Oshiro, Former Representative, Hawaii State Legislature, Former Deputy Chief of Staff, Governor of Hawaii
Mark E. Pulido, Former Mayor of Cerritos, California
Hon. Melissa Ramoso, Councilmember and State Chair, City of Artesia and California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus
Calvin K.Y. Say, Hawaii State Representative, Hawaii State Legislature
Maile Shimabukuro, State Senator, Hawaii State Senate
Carl Takamura, Former Hawaii State Representative
Jill Tokuda, Former Hawaii State Senator, Patsy T Mink Political Action Committee
Kriselda Valderrama, State Delegate, Maryland General Assembly
Jocelyn Yow, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Eastvale, California
Wendy Abe, Director of External Relations, US Japan Council
Nish Acharya, Former Senior Advisor to the US Secretary of Commerce, Equal Innovation, Center for American Progress, Forbes
Amy Agbayani, Chair, Filipina Action Network, Hawai’i Friends of Civil Rights
Lorraine Akiba, Former Chair and National Committeewoman, Hawai’i Democratic Party
Anila Ali, President, American Muslim Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council
Eduardo Angeles, Former President, Philippine American Bar Association (PABA) and Filipino Bar Association of Northern California (FBANC), NAPABA
Suzan Aramaki, Director, Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Commerce
Asian American Action (AAA) Fund
Jenny Bach, Secretary, California Democratic Party
Brad Baldia, Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs; Philadelphia Mayor’s Commission on Asian American Affairs, Federation of Philippine American Chambers of Commerce
Rhonda Binda, Attorney, Former Obama Appointee, U.S. Department of State and Former Clinton White House Appointee, New York Venture Council
Heather Buen, Communications Chair, Tarrant County Democratic Party, Texas
Irene B. Bueno, Board Member, Asian American Action Fund, Former Special Assistant to the President Clinton White House
Chris Chan, Former Obama Appointee, Small Business Administration, Founder & CEO, 3C Strategies, LLC
Alicia Chang, Democratic Precinct Chair, Dallas County Democratic Party
Vivian Chang, Media Director, Asian American Action Fund
Constance Chao, Stanford University
Stephen Chen, Founder, SC2, LLC
Kathryn Chinn (WA)
Sam Cho, Commissioner, Port of Seattle
Michael Choe, President, Korean-American Chamber of Commerce for Philadelphia
Rose Chu, Treasurer, Democratic Asian Americans of Virginia, Virginia 8th District Democratic Committee
Julia Chun, Co-President, KAFO Fund
Debadutta Dash, Co-Chair, Washington State and India Trade Relations Action Committee
Democratic Asian Americans of Virginia
Jasper Diaz, Co-Founder and Board Member, New York Pan Asian Democratic Club
Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, Filipino Community Leader
Thompson Du, President, APALSA UNT Dallas College of Law, North Texas Community Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs
Tuyet Duong, Senior Advisor, White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Gautam Dutta, General Counsel & Former Executive Director, Asian American Action Fund
Christian Edlagan, KAYA: Filipino Americans for Progress
Deanna Espinas, Secretary and Board Member, Filipino-American Historical Society of Hawaii
Jimmy Ferguson, President, Owner/Operator, MAXTAB/ dba McDonald’s
Kay Fukuda, University of Hawaii
Gracie Galloway, Chair, AAPI Caucus, North Carolina Democratic Party
Marie Guillermo, University of Hawaiʻi
Peter Gur, Treasurer and Board Member, Richmond Chinese School
Lynne Gutierrez, Former President, United Filipino Council of Hawaii
Patricia Halagao, Chair and Professor, Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Hawaii, Manoa
Christine Harada, Former Federal Chief Sustainability Officer, President, i(x) investments
Hiroko Hatanaka, Board Member, Japanese American Social Services, Inc., NYC
Cheryl Hori, Former Deputy Digital Director, Priorities USA, Founder and Chief Strategist, Pacific Campaign House
Tonia Hsieh, Board Member, 1990 Institute, Co-Founder, KarMa Pictures, KarMa Pictures
Karina Hsieh, Author, Harvard University
Tiffany Hsieh, Digital Director, Asian American Action Fund
Yvonne Hsu, Former Obama Administration Appointee, Yvonne Hsu, Former Obama Administration Appointee
Hanh Hua, Political Consultant, Alabama Democratic Party
Daniel Ishii, Director, McKinley High School Foundation
Stuart Ishimaru, Former Commissioner and Acting Chairman, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Wei Wei Jeang, Former Chair, DFW Asian American Citizens Council
June Jee, Board Member, APAICS, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, Museum of Chinese in America
Les Jin, Former Executive Director, Asian American Bar Association, Former Obama Appointee, U.S. Department of Labor
Mila Kaahanui, Former Executive Director, Office of Community Services, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
Katie Kalvoda, Founder, Asian Americans Rising
Kurt Kanazawa, Actor
Julia Kang (TX)
Kainoa Kaumeheiwa-Rego, Former Treasurer, Democratic Party of Hawaii, Former State Central Committee Representative, Senate District 12, Democratic Party of Hawai’i, Former President and National Committeewoman, Young Democrats of Hawai’i, Former Hawaiian Affairs Caucus State Central Committee Representative, Democratic Party of Hawai’i
Esther Kia’aina, Former Assistant Secretary of Insular Areas, U.S. Department of the Interior
Tammy Kim, Finance Commissioner, City of Irvine, Asian Americans in Action
Justin Kollar, Prosecuting Attorney, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, County of Kaua’i
Korean Americans For Organizing (KAFO) Fund
Lisa Kuan, Co-Chair, Tri-State Asian American Action Fund
Suchada Langley, Former Democratic Committee Chair, Fairfax County
Yvonne Lau, Treasurer and Board Member, Patsy T. Mink Political Action Committee
Hieu Le, Campaign Representative, Sierra Club, Board Member, Progressive Vietnamese American Organization (PIVOT)
Henry Lee, Board Member, Asian American Action Fund
Malcolm Lee, Former Special Assistant to the President for International Trade and Economic Policy, National Economic Council and National Security Council
Chris Lee, Founder and Director, Academy for Creative Media, University of Hawaii, Former President of Production, Columbia/TriStar Pictures
Esther Lee, Former Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Commonwealth of Virginia
Marilyn Lee, Oahu Commissioner, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Soroptimist International of Central Oahu
Bel Leong-Hong, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of Defense
Nicholas Lepham, The Progressive Vietnamese American Organization (PIVOT)
Ginger Lew, Former White House Senior Counselor, National Economic Council
Joy Kobashigawa Lewis, Former Chairwoman, Labor Caucus, Hawaii Democratic Party State Central Committee
Lindy Li, United Chinese Americans
Raymund Liongson, Former Professor, University of Hawaii-Leeward
Francine Ly, Vice President, Texas Democratic AAPI Caucus
Adam Ma, Southern California Chair, Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, California Democratic Party
Joseph Malasa, Former President, Organization of Young Filipino Americans at University of Virginia
Charmaine Manansala, Former Obama Appointee, Former White House Initiative on AAPIs, Clinton Administration
Ally Mark, Media Fellow, Asian American Action Fund
Parag Mehta, Former Chief of Staff to the U.S. Surgeon General, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth
Carolyn Miho, Executive Director of Foundation, Lanakila Pacific
Amy Monk, Former Foreign Service Officer, Co-Chair Women’s Caucus, Hawaii Democratic Party; Two-term former State Commissioner on the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Board Member, Planned Parenthood Votes of the NW and Hawaii, Board Member, Patsy T. Mink Political Action Committee
Howard Moon, Former Senior Policy Advisor, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi
Erika Moritsugu, Former Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Cecile Motus, Former Assistant Director, Department of Cultural Diversity, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Francis Nakamoto (HI)
Phil Tajitsu Nash, Co-Founder, Asian American Studies Program, University of Maryland
Irene Natividad, Former Chair, National Women’s Political Caucus
Tung Nguyen, Chair, President Obama’s Advisory Commission on AAPIs, Chair, AAPI Progressive Action, President, The Progressive Vietnamese American Organization (PIVOT)
Jadine Nielsen, Former Deputy to the Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Former Chief of Staff, U.S. Small Business Administration, Patsy T. Mink Political Action Committee
Stephanie Ohigashi, County Chair, Maui County Democratic Party, Former Hawaii State Party Chair, Former Hawaii State Party Vice-Chair, Democratic National Committee
Sue Okubo, Former Associate Director, Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
Jim Park, Chairman Emeritus, Asian Real Estate Association of America
Lida Peterson, President, CIMPA
Jessica Phan, Former Associate Director, White House
Suki Ports, Member, Board of Directors, New York Women’s Foundation, Sister Fund, N.Y.C. Board of Education, Local Board Districts 3–4 and 10–11, Morningside Urban Renewal Council, National Minority AIDS Council
Myron Quon, Executive Director, National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse
Vicky Ramil (HI)
Armin Reyes, Former Board Member, ABC Unified School District, California
Meriam Reynosa Brosnan, Former California State Senate, Former Northern California Vice Chair, California Filipino American Democratic Caucus
Lorraine Robinson, Board Member, Patsy T. Mink Political Action Committee
Jeffrey Roh, CEO, IntuitiveX
Dan Santos, Community Organizer, AAPI Caucus, Nevada Democratic Party
Chung Seto, President, United Democratic Organization, Former Executive Director, New York State Democratic Committee, Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee
Sonal Shah, Senior Advisor, Georgetown University, Former Deputy Assistant to President Obama
Albert Shen, Former National Deputy Director, U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency, Asian American Action Fund, Texas Chapter
Debbie Shimizu, Program Specialist, Hawaii Executive Office on Aging, Former Policy Analyst, Governor of Hawaii, Former Executive Director, National Association of Social Workers, Hawaii Chapter, Patsy T. Mink Political Action Committee
Professor Shin (HI)
Haipei Shue, President, United Chinese Americans
Shamina Singh, Former Executive Director White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Dewita Soeharjono, Chair Emeritus, Democratic Asian Americans of Virginia
Jalmeen Soni, Sikh Foundation of Virginia, Raj Khalsa Gurudwara of Sterling, Member of DAAV, Member of AAPI, Member of Moms Demand Action
Rebecca Soon, Chair, Patsy T. Mink Political Action Committee, Chief Operations Officer, Solutions Pacific
Aleli Starosta, Department of Education
Francis Stevens, Political Director, Democratic Asian American of Virginia
Yuriko Sugimura, Former Treasurer, Democratic Party of Hawaii
Judith Sykes, Asian Real Estate Association, Aloha Chapter, Board of Directors, Sykes & Sykes Properties, Inc.
Jeffrey T. M. Acido, Community Organizer, Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services
Trung Ta, Board Member and Media Committee Chair, The Progressive Vietnamese American Organization (PIVOT)
Mary Tablante, KAYA: Filipino Americans for Progress
Tony Taguba, Major General, ret., US Army
Taling Taitano, Committeewoman, Democratic Party of Guam, Deputy Superintendent of Education, Guam Department of Education
Caroll Takahashi, Former Director of Budget and Fiscal Services, City and County of Honolulu
Naomi Takai (HI)
Jeanette Takamura, Assistant Secretary for Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Member, 2000 and 2008 Presidential Transition Teams
Jennifer Taylor (HI)
Jason Tengco, Former National AAPI Outreach Director, Hillary for America
Tan Than (TX)
Sarah Thomas Nededog, Former Vice Chair, Democratic Party of Guam
Paul Tiao, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Asian American Action Fund
Maeley Tom, Former Member, DNC Executive Committee, Co-Founder Association of Asian American Investment Managers
Stephanie Ueng, Former Advisor to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Former Advisor, Senator Tammy Duckworth
Debra Wada, Former Assistant Secretary of Manpower and Reserves Affairs, United States Army
Gloria Lung Wakayama, Former President, Wing Luke Museum of the Asian American Experience
Jennifer Wang, Deputy Director of Programs, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum
Amelia Wang Binder, Former Chief of Staff, Congresswoman Judy Chu
Nahelani Webster, Former Patsy T. Mink Law Fellow, United States Senate
Holly Wong, Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Annie Wright, Vice Chair South, Democratic Party of Orange County
Elaine Wu (WA)
Samantha Wu-Georges, Asian American Action Fund
Matt Yagyagan, Southern California Outreach Chair, Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, California Democratic Party
Cora Yamamoto, District 27 Chair, Hawaii Democratic Party
Alvina Yeh, Executive Director, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance
Francey Youngberg, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Public Engagement, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Cynthia Yu-Robinson, Executive Director, National Association of Asian American Professionals
Jian Zapata Kim, Former Obama Appointee, U.S. Department of Commerce
cc: Vice Presidential Selection Committee
