News

By Jasmine Sheena and Maryam Rahaman/City & State NY

While Andrew Yang’s failed mayoral run was a high-profile shortfall for Asian American representation in New York City, the results of several City Council primaries show that Asian Americans are becoming a more powerful political force. This round of elections has likely resulted in six Asian American winners of Democratic City Council primaries – the most ever. The victorious candidates represent a more diverse population within the Asian American community, with multiple Asian women as well as a number of South Asian Americans who may go on to be the first South Asian voices on the council.

“Making sure our communities are safe is a really big priority for Asian Americans, especially in the last year or two, as so many people in the community have really come under attack,” said Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund director Jerry Vattamala. “That is not only East Asians… It wasn’t that long ago, after 9/11 where South Asians and Muslims were under attack in the city …This does go back to having effective representation.”