Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Who will be the Jeremy Lin of this year's political game of thrones?
2012 will be one of the most competitive elections for AAPIs in U.S. history. In California alone, 8 AAPIs are viable candidates for open State Assembly seats and at least 3 AAPIs have the potential to be elected in Congressional seats that are not currently held by AAPIs. Nationally, 3 AAPI women are making waves in high profile seats in Congress.
California is currently home to 11 AAPIs elected to the Legislature, 3 to the U.S. House of Representatives, and 4 constitutional officers. 4 of the AAPIs in the Legislature will be leaving office at the end of this year due to term limits (Mike Eng, Warren Furutani, Mary Hayashi, & Fiona Ma). AAPI candidates are poised to replace 3 of the 4 departing incumbents. Attorney and school board member Ed Chau (D) is running to replace Mike Eng in the 49th AD, Dr. Jennifer Ong (D) is running to replace Mary Hayashi in the 20th AD, and Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting (D) is running to replace Ma in the 19th AD.
In other open Assembly seats, Peter Tateishi (R) is running in the 8th AD, Torrance School Board member Al Muratsuchi (D) is running in the 66th AD, Alameda City Councilman Rob Bonta (D) is running in the 18th AD, OC Board of Education member Long Pham (R) is running in the 72nd AD, and Sid Voorakkara (D) is running in the 79th AD. There are a number of other AAPIs running for legislative seats, but their fundraising numbers and lack of political experience make them less viable to win.
[Ad: Help elect AAPIs in California, click here]
Potential Congressional seat pick-ups for AAPIs include Dr. Ami Bera (D) in CD 7, Riverside Community College Trustee Mark Takano (D) in CD 41, and Fresno City Councilman Blong Xiong (D) in CD 21. In addition, underdog efforts to unseat incumbent members of Congress include Hacienda La Puente School Board Trustee Jay Chen (D) in CD 39, Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang in CD 45, and decorated Iraqi war veteran Otto Lee (D) in CD 22.
AAPIs running for re-election in California include Doris Matsui (D-CD 6), Mike Honda (D-CD 17), Judy Chu (D-CD 27), Carol Liu (D-SD 25), Mariko Yamada (D-AD 4), Dr. Richard Pan (D-AD 9), Paul Fong (D-AD 28), and Das Williams (D-AD 37).
Nationally, the hottest races for AAPIs include U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono for U.S Senate in Hawaii, Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard for U.S House of Representatives in Hawaii, Decorated war veteran Tammy Duckworth for U.S House of Representatives in Illinois, and Assembly Member Grace Meng for U.S House of Representatives in New York. Also, U.S. Rep. Hanson Clark will have a tough re-elect because redistricting put him into a district occupied by another sitting member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Dr. Manan Trivedi (D) recently was added to DCCC's Red to Blue list, indicating that he will have a good chance of taking the Republican held seat in PA 6. Connecticut legislator William Tong's race for U.S. Senate has raised a significant war chest and received some national buzz as the "Asian Obama", but key factions of the political establishment has backed the candidate who currently serves in the U.S. House of Representatives.
[Ad: What AAPI political action committee has donated over $300,000 to help elect AAPI candidates in California? Answer: click here.]
Politics is the one of the most elite and merciless arenas of competition in the world. AAPIs have excelled in many things, but it still seems that we haven't quite got our groove on in the world of politics.
We can claim Pres. Obama as the first AAPI president, and despite his trailblazing efforts to raise the visibility of AAPIs and AAPI issues (such as appointing an unprecedented number of AAPI cabinet secretaries), it would be a stretch for us to say we've made it in the bare-knuckle world of politics.
Well, 2012 is as good a test of our mettle as any. We have more legitimately viable candidates running for state and federal office than in any other time in U.S. history. Whether we make it or break it is entirely up to you.
[Ad: Help elect AAPIs in California, click here]
2012 will be one of the most competitive elections for AAPIs in U.S. history. In California alone, 8 AAPIs are viable candidates for open State Assembly seats and at least 3 AAPIs have the potential to be elected in Congressional seats that are not currently held by AAPIs. Nationally, 3 AAPI women are making waves in high profile seats in Congress.
California is currently home to 11 AAPIs elected to the Legislature, 3 to the U.S. House of Representatives, and 4 constitutional officers. 4 of the AAPIs in the Legislature will be leaving office at the end of this year due to term limits (Mike Eng, Warren Furutani, Mary Hayashi, & Fiona Ma). AAPI candidates are poised to replace 3 of the 4 departing incumbents. Attorney and school board member Ed Chau (D) is running to replace Mike Eng in the 49th AD, Dr. Jennifer Ong (D) is running to replace Mary Hayashi in the 20th AD, and Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting (D) is running to replace Ma in the 19th AD.
In other open Assembly seats, Peter Tateishi (R) is running in the 8th AD, Torrance School Board member Al Muratsuchi (D) is running in the 66th AD, Alameda City Councilman Rob Bonta (D) is running in the 18th AD, OC Board of Education member Long Pham (R) is running in the 72nd AD, and Sid Voorakkara (D) is running in the 79th AD. There are a number of other AAPIs running for legislative seats, but their fundraising numbers and lack of political experience make them less viable to win.
[Ad: Help elect AAPIs in California, click here]
Potential Congressional seat pick-ups for AAPIs include Dr. Ami Bera (D) in CD 7, Riverside Community College Trustee Mark Takano (D) in CD 41, and Fresno City Councilman Blong Xiong (D) in CD 21. In addition, underdog efforts to unseat incumbent members of Congress include Hacienda La Puente School Board Trustee Jay Chen (D) in CD 39, Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang in CD 45, and decorated Iraqi war veteran Otto Lee (D) in CD 22.
AAPIs running for re-election in California include Doris Matsui (D-CD 6), Mike Honda (D-CD 17), Judy Chu (D-CD 27), Carol Liu (D-SD 25), Mariko Yamada (D-AD 4), Dr. Richard Pan (D-AD 9), Paul Fong (D-AD 28), and Das Williams (D-AD 37).
Nationally, the hottest races for AAPIs include U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono for U.S Senate in Hawaii, Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard for U.S House of Representatives in Hawaii, Decorated war veteran Tammy Duckworth for U.S House of Representatives in Illinois, and Assembly Member Grace Meng for U.S House of Representatives in New York. Also, U.S. Rep. Hanson Clark will have a tough re-elect because redistricting put him into a district occupied by another sitting member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Dr. Manan Trivedi (D) recently was added to DCCC's Red to Blue list, indicating that he will have a good chance of taking the Republican held seat in PA 6. Connecticut legislator William Tong's race for U.S. Senate has raised a significant war chest and received some national buzz as the "Asian Obama", but key factions of the political establishment has backed the candidate who currently serves in the U.S. House of Representatives.
[Ad: What AAPI political action committee has donated over $300,000 to help elect AAPI candidates in California? Answer: click here.]
Politics is the one of the most elite and merciless arenas of competition in the world. AAPIs have excelled in many things, but it still seems that we haven't quite got our groove on in the world of politics.
We can claim Pres. Obama as the first AAPI president, and despite his trailblazing efforts to raise the visibility of AAPIs and AAPI issues (such as appointing an unprecedented number of AAPI cabinet secretaries), it would be a stretch for us to say we've made it in the bare-knuckle world of politics.
Well, 2012 is as good a test of our mettle as any. We have more legitimately viable candidates running for state and federal office than in any other time in U.S. history. Whether we make it or break it is entirely up to you.
[Ad: Help elect AAPIs in California, click here]
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
5 Things AAPIs Can Do To Be Taken Seriously...
There's a lot of anger out there in the AAPI community...either about racist comments and attitudes toward Jeremy Lin, the hazing related deaths of U.S. AAPI servicemen, the splitting of Korean Americans in Los Angeles redistricting, and the disproportionate impact of bullying experienced by AAPI youth, etc.
Unfortunately, there's this huge divide between anger and effecting change. Pointing out the problem and expressing outrage is just the tip of the iceberg. You don't get justice by crying foul. Other communities (Latino, Black, LGBT) have figured it out...if AAPIs really want to right these wrongs, here are 5 things they can do...
1) Establish political action committees (PAC) that can make "real" donations to candidates. Outside of contribution limits, any donation south of $500 doesn't even register in the world of politics. Grown-up donations start north of $1,000. If your PAC can't swing at least $1K in ante, don't expect any politician to give you anything more than lip service and a patronizing pat on the back. But starting a PAC is hard, right? "We don't have the money, etc." Really? AAPIs spend over $500 billion annually in consumer products and services. AAPIs are near the top in annual income. Crying poor just means that true political power is not a priority for AAPIs.
2) Register to vote. Political consultants and politicians have access to unbelievable data. When AAPIs tout their raw population numbers or Citizen Voting Age Population numbers, the consultants have a good laugh. It doesn't matter how many AAPIs are eligible to vote...it only matters how many AAPIs are actually registered to vote and actually vote. When I develop a strategy for a candidate, the first number I look at is how many frequent voters are in my target universe. These are the voters that vote every election. If things are grim, I may look at trying to get occasional voters to the polls. I NEVER look at how many people are eligible to vote and not registered yet. Most of the time, there simply is not enough time or money to do a decent job at registering voters.
3) Volunteer for a campaign. This means knock on doors or make phone calls. Licking envelopes, Facebooking, tweeting, and other passive campaign activities do not help that much. Politicians will only take you seriously if you can turn out volunteers that are willing to do the tough tasks - walk precincts or make phone calls. The science behind campaigns show that aggressive direct voter contact is critical to winning elections. If you don't win, you don't get a voice in the halls of power. Plain & simple.
4) Learn how to run a campaign. Politics is half art form and half science. You don't get to be strategist by watching seven seasons of the West Wing or a summer internship in a legislative office. Work on a campaign and use it as an opportunity to learn how field campaigns are run, how to raise money, how to maintain message discipline, and how to organize. In an era of growing viable AAPI candidates, the number of AAPI political operatives are still anemic. If the AAPI community really wants to make their issues a top priority, then AAPIs need to earn their spot among the nation's political kingmakers.
5) Master media relations. The news cycle is now 24-7 and the channels of information are almost limitless. Dealing with issue advocacy relies heavily on message management. Those who are skilled at crafting message and maintaining message discipline across platforms will prevail. If you don't have the experience, then hire someone that does to represent you. Media relations skills are not something you pick up over a weekend seminar. It requires a lot of work and the rules of engagement are changing every day. Either commit yourself to mastering the craft or hiring someone that is a master of the craft.
Unfortunately, there's this huge divide between anger and effecting change. Pointing out the problem and expressing outrage is just the tip of the iceberg. You don't get justice by crying foul. Other communities (Latino, Black, LGBT) have figured it out...if AAPIs really want to right these wrongs, here are 5 things they can do...
1) Establish political action committees (PAC) that can make "real" donations to candidates. Outside of contribution limits, any donation south of $500 doesn't even register in the world of politics. Grown-up donations start north of $1,000. If your PAC can't swing at least $1K in ante, don't expect any politician to give you anything more than lip service and a patronizing pat on the back. But starting a PAC is hard, right? "We don't have the money, etc." Really? AAPIs spend over $500 billion annually in consumer products and services. AAPIs are near the top in annual income. Crying poor just means that true political power is not a priority for AAPIs.
2) Register to vote. Political consultants and politicians have access to unbelievable data. When AAPIs tout their raw population numbers or Citizen Voting Age Population numbers, the consultants have a good laugh. It doesn't matter how many AAPIs are eligible to vote...it only matters how many AAPIs are actually registered to vote and actually vote. When I develop a strategy for a candidate, the first number I look at is how many frequent voters are in my target universe. These are the voters that vote every election. If things are grim, I may look at trying to get occasional voters to the polls. I NEVER look at how many people are eligible to vote and not registered yet. Most of the time, there simply is not enough time or money to do a decent job at registering voters.
3) Volunteer for a campaign. This means knock on doors or make phone calls. Licking envelopes, Facebooking, tweeting, and other passive campaign activities do not help that much. Politicians will only take you seriously if you can turn out volunteers that are willing to do the tough tasks - walk precincts or make phone calls. The science behind campaigns show that aggressive direct voter contact is critical to winning elections. If you don't win, you don't get a voice in the halls of power. Plain & simple.
4) Learn how to run a campaign. Politics is half art form and half science. You don't get to be strategist by watching seven seasons of the West Wing or a summer internship in a legislative office. Work on a campaign and use it as an opportunity to learn how field campaigns are run, how to raise money, how to maintain message discipline, and how to organize. In an era of growing viable AAPI candidates, the number of AAPI political operatives are still anemic. If the AAPI community really wants to make their issues a top priority, then AAPIs need to earn their spot among the nation's political kingmakers.
5) Master media relations. The news cycle is now 24-7 and the channels of information are almost limitless. Dealing with issue advocacy relies heavily on message management. Those who are skilled at crafting message and maintaining message discipline across platforms will prevail. If you don't have the experience, then hire someone that does to represent you. Media relations skills are not something you pick up over a weekend seminar. It requires a lot of work and the rules of engagement are changing every day. Either commit yourself to mastering the craft or hiring someone that is a master of the craft.
Extended filing leaves some seats still up in the air
Because of redistricting, a number of newly numbered districts do not have incumbents running for re-election. As a result, election law provides that the filing deadline to run for office in these seats are extended until 5 pm on Wednesday, March 14.
A number of AAPIs are running in these seats, and the extra days for filing allows for additional candidates/opponents that could make what would have been a clear field into a competitive primary.
California seats that have filing extended until Wednesday, click here.
This means there is time for additional candidates to jump into a number of races where AAPIs are running, like Congressional District 21 where Fresno City Councilman Blong Xiong is running and Assembly District 19 where Phil Ting is running.
A number of AAPIs are running in these seats, and the extra days for filing allows for additional candidates/opponents that could make what would have been a clear field into a competitive primary.
California seats that have filing extended until Wednesday, click here.
This means there is time for additional candidates to jump into a number of races where AAPIs are running, like Congressional District 21 where Fresno City Councilman Blong Xiong is running and Assembly District 19 where Phil Ting is running.
Another AAPI announces run for Congress
Mathews is of South Asian descent. Peter Mathews has spent 30 years as a College and University Professor educating people. Born into a family of educators, his father was a university professor and clinical psychologist, and his mother, a teacher.
He'll be taking on veteran pol State Senator Alan Lowenthal.
Here is Mathew's campaign website:
http://www.mathewsforcongress.org/
Friday, March 9, 2012
GOP Strategist Says There's No Way Asians Can Win
Fresno City Councilman Blong Xiong announced his candidacy for Congress today. He is running in CA 21 where Obama won 52-46, Jerry Brown won 47-44, and John Chiang won 50-38...Xiong would be the first Hmong American elected to Congress if he makes it to November and wins.
GOP strategist Max Rexroad tweeted this upon the news:
He also refers to Dr. Ami Bera who is running against GOP Rep. Dan Lungren in CA 7 that is now 39% Dem, 39% GOP and 18% DTS.
GOP strategist Max Rexroad tweeted this upon the news:
He also refers to Dr. Ami Bera who is running against GOP Rep. Dan Lungren in CA 7 that is now 39% Dem, 39% GOP and 18% DTS.
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