WASHINGTON, DC – Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) leaders from across the country are endorsing President Obama for a second term. This endorsement comes at a critical time in the election as the polls tighten. With 1 in 6 AAPIs living in battleground states, the support of the AAPI community can decide this election.
“President Obama has fought hard to ensure that everyone plays by the same rules, so that the American Dream is within reach for all of us. As the granddaughter of Chinese American immigrants, I am proud to serve under President Obama’s leadership as the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress, and I wholeheartedly support his candidacy for a second term,” said Congresswoman Judy Chu.
“We are endorsing President Obama because on matters that are of crucial importance to the AAPI community — the economy, small business, education, immigration, civil rights and healthcare — President Obama stands with us,” said national civil rights leader Karen K. Narasaki.
“With so much at stake in this election, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders cannot afford to sit this out. By showing up at the polls, our communities can and will make a difference in this election, especially in swing states like Virginia. I urge everyone to exercise their right to vote and make an informed choice for the future,” said Mark Keam, the first Asian-born immigrant to serve in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Community advocate Rozita Lee said, “I support the candidate who understands me as a Filipino American woman from Nevada and will lead us forward. We do not need a candidate who will take us back in time and turn back the clock on advances for women and minorities. We need to move forward, not backwards.”
“President Obama has fought hard to protect programs that have provided for the most vulnerable in our community for decades. From safety net programs like Social Security and Medicare to making housing affordable for seniors, President Obama is with our community 100%, and that is why I support him 100%,” said Florida Chinese American Community Leader Winnie Tang.
“President Obama has the right vision and plan for building our economy and putting people back to work. He fights for middle-class families, not tax cuts for the wealthy. He shares my values and beliefs and I am happy to endorse his re-election,” said Colorado Attorney Harry Budisidharta.
“As a Chinese American parent, I understand that investing in the education of our children creates new opportunities and provides a better future for all of us. During his first term, President Obama has delivered on his promise to keep college affordable for all Americans, and has doubled the amount of grants awarded to low-income students. I support the President’s re-election so that all students will have a fair shot at the American Dream,” Chih Ping Chen, Ohio Chinese American Community Leader.
“President Obama has cut taxes for small businesses 18 times and fought for tax credits to allow us to hire new workers and make capital improvements. He understands that small businesses are often a family affair for Asian Americans and is the product of sacrifice, hard work, and sweat. He is leading us out of the worst recession of our generation and I trust that given four more years, he can and will do more to support small business across the country. He has my vote,” said Pennsylvania small business community leader Nina Ahmad.
Rep. Mike Honda, Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, and CAPAC Chair Emeritus, expressed the following, “With less than a week from election day, the race remains extremely close. The AAPI vote is, and will be, the margin of victory in this year’s presidential election and the critical vote to re-elect President Obama and move this country forward. President Obama is our first AAPI president and I am proud to support his re-election.”
As part of Asian Voices, Asian Votes, Asian American and Pacific Democratic network, we stand together to endorse President Obama.
Bel Leong Hong, DNC Asian Caucus Chair
Kevin Acebo, Former Deputy Mayor, City of Los Angeles, CA
Marilei Denila, Los Angeles Chapter Co-chair, Kaya – Filipino Americans for Progress, CA
JoAnn Fields, Public Relations Officer, Filipino American Caucus of San Diego County, CA
Tessie Guillermo, Community Leader, CA
Johanna Hester, National President, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, CA
Michael Inacay, Los Angeles Chapter Co-chair, Kaya – Filipino Americans for Progress, CA
Genevieve Jopanda, National Co-chair, Kaya – Filipino Americans for Progress, CA
Daphne Kwok, Community Leader, CA
Dale Minami, Partner, Minami Tamaki LLP, CA
Tung Nguyen, MD, General Internist, CA
Angela Oh, Attorney/Public Lecturer, CA
Michael Pangilinan, San Francisco Chapter Co-chair, Kaya – Filipino Americans for Progress, CA
Melissa Ramoso, Los Angeles Chapter Co-chair, Kaya – Filipino Americans for Progress, CA
Meriam Reynosa, San Francisco Chapter Co-chair, Kaya – Filipino Americans for Progress, CA
Dilawar Syed, Entrepreneur & Community Leader, CA
Katerina Villaneuva, Community Leader, CA
Kent Wong, Vice President, California Federation of Teachers, CA
Vida Benavides, Principal, Dewey Square Group, CA/DC
Harry Budisidharta, Attorney at Law, CO
Andrew S. Hamano, Community Leader, CO
D.J. Ida, Community Leader, CO
Stan Matsunaka, Former Colorado State President, CO
Karen Nakandakare, Community Leader, CO
Derrick Okubo, Community Leader, CO
Sam Thomas, Communications Director, Desi-Dems, CO
Ben de Guzman, Co-Chair Emeritus, Asian Pacific Islander Queers United for Action, DC
Katrina Dizon, DC President, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, DC
Marita Etcubanez, Washington DC Chapter Co-chair, Kaya – Filipino Americans for Progress, DC
Kimberly Goulart, Communications Co-Chair, Korean Americans for Obama, DC
Laura Shin, National Coordinator, Korean Americans for Obama, DC
Evelyn Bruce, Community Leader, FL
Ginger Lew, Former Senior Counselor, White House National Economic Council, FL
Wei Li, Vice President, Shandong Fellowship Association of Florida, FL
Douglas Myint, Community Leader, FL
Xianqin Qu (曲显芹), President, Shandong Fellowship Association of Florida, FL
Cao Quan, Community Leader, FL
Atiquer Radman, Community Leader, FL
Hari Singh, President, Indian Horizon of Florida, FL
Winnie Tang, President, Florida Chinese Federation, FL
George Yap, Chairman, LEASA Industries Co., Inc., FL
Esther Puakela Kia’aina, Community Leader, HI
Jadine Nielsen, Communit y Leader , HI
Ngoan Le, Vice President of Programs, The Chicago Community Trust, IL
Geri Sanchez Aglipay, Chicago Chapter Chair, Kaya – Filipino Americans for Progress, IL
Unmi Song, Executive Director, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, IL
Sandra Yamate, CEO, The Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession, IL
Paul Lee, National Bar Leader and Law Firm Partner, MA
Leo Kim, National Field Co-Chair, Korean Americans for Obama, MD
Jason Lagria, National Co-chair, Kaya – Filipino Americans for Progress, MD
Minh Le, Mid Atlantic Advisor, Vietnamese Americans for Obama, MD
Jon Melegrito, Community Leader, MD
Kris Valderrama, Maryland State Delegate, MD
Dr. Nazmul Hassan (Shahin), President, Bangladeshi American Democratic Caucus (BAC), MI
Roland Hwang, , Northville Democratic Club, MI
Peggy Nagae, Community Leader, MT
Rozita Lee, Community Leader, NV
Loida Lewis, Community Leader, NY
Subodh Chadra, Community Leader, OH
Chih Ping Chen, Community Leader, OH
Jay Goyal, Community Leader, OH
Ray Hing, Community Leader, OH
Ron Katsuyama, Co-Founder, Asian American Council, OH
Siu-Leung Lee, Community Leader, OH
Theresa Lee, Community Leader, OH
Yung-Chen Lu, Community Leader, OH
Margaret Wong, Community Leader, OH
N. Nina Ahmad, Small Business Owner, Scientist, and Community Organizer, PA
Glenn Hing, Community Leader, PA
Nina Chen Langenmayr, Community Leader, PA
Tsiwen Law, Community Leader, PA
Stella Tsai, Community Leader, Bar Association, PA
Gordon Quan, Former Mayor Pro Tem, City of Houston, TX
George Willy, Partner, Immigration Law Firm, TX
Toa Do, Board member, Vietnamese Americans for Obama, VA
Vincent Eng, Partner and CEO, VENG Group, VA
Melissa Unemori Hampe, Deputy Executive Director, Asian American Action Fund, VA
Vel Hernandez, Mid Atlantic Youth Director, Vietnamese Americans for Obama, VA
Linh Hoang, Mid Atlantic Field Director, Vietnamese Americans for Obama, VA
Mark Keam, Delegate, Virginia House of Delegates, VA
Gene Kim, Communications Co-Chair, Korean Americans for Obama, VA
Sunil Mansukhani, Principal, The Raben Group, VA
Irene Natividad, President, GlobeWomen, Inc, DC
Hung Nguyen, Board member, Vietnamese Americans for Obama, VA
Anh Phan, Mid Atlantic Communication Director, Vietnamese Americans for Obama, VA
Melvin Tabilas, Washington DC Chapter Co-chair, Kaya – Filipino Americans for Progress, VA
John Yang, Former President, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association , Former Chair, Asian American Justice Center, VA
Pramila Jayapal, Author and Activist, Founder, OneAmerica, Distinguished Taconic Fellow, Center for Community Change, WA
Hyeok Kim, Nonprofit Executive Director, WA
Albert Shen, Community Leader
Karen Narasaki, Civil Rights Leader, WA/DC
Sonal Shah, Former White House Director of Social Innovation
Osman Siddiquei, Former U.S. Ambassador, Republic of Fiji, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu,
