11/11/2019: Battle over DACA arrives at the Supreme Court
By: The Yappie
Tags: Politics, Issue, Asian American, 2020 Presidential Race, DACA

On the Agenda

AAPI NATION — 2019 ELECTION RECAP: Last week’s general and municipal elections in 19 states ushered in a new wave of AAPI lawmakers, according to the nonpartisan groups APIAVote and AIPAICS. Here are a few highlights and results…

BREAKING — AFFIRMATIVE ACTION MEASURE APPEARS TO FAIL IN WASHINGTON STATE: Washingtonians have narrowly rejected Referendum 88, which would have ended a two-decade ban on the use of affirmative action as a factor in public employment, contracting, and public education. The measure had faced significant opposition from Chinese immigrant activists while Gary Locke, the only Chinese American to serve as a state governor, campaigned to overturn the ban. Read more.

VIRGINIA AAPIS HAND DEMS CONTROL OF STATE GOVERNMENT: A wave of support from newly-engaged Korean and Indian voters helped to deliver the Virginia statehouse to the Democratic Party for the first time in a generation. The critical political realignment in the state coincided with another historic win, as Ghazala Hashmi became the first Muslim woman elected to the Virginia state Senate. Read more.

WU REELECTED TO BOSTON CITY COUNCIL: Incumbent Michelle Wu coasted to victory as Boston voters elected a city council dominated by progressive women and people of color — fueling further speculation about a possible 2021 mayoral run. Read more.

SEATTLE’S SAWANT PREVAILS IN BLOW TO AMAZON: Incumbent Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant declared victory in a tight race that pitted her against Amazon, Seattle’s largest private employer. Read more.

PHILADELPHIA’S OH SCRATCHES OUT SURPRISE VICTORY: Philadelphia’s only Republican at-large councilman, incumbent David Oh, narrowly won re-election after defying his party and building a coalition of AAPIs and small business owners. Read more.

NEW MEXICO’S MIYAGISHIMA CLINCHES FOURTH TERM: Ken Miyagishima won a fourth term as mayor of Las Cruces, New Mexico, extending his distinction as one of the longest-serving Asian Americans in history to lead a U.S. city. Read more.

VOTERS PUT HMONG WOMAN ON ST. PAUL CITY COUNCIL: 24-year-old community organizer Nelsie Yang became the first Hmong woman elected to the St. Paul City Council, winning a seat that had not been open for more than two decades. Read more.

PYAKUREL MAKES HISTORY IN OHIO COUNCIL RACE: A former refugee, Bhuwan Pyakurel, became the country’s first Nepali-Bhutanese elected official after securing a spot on the Reynoldsburg City Council. Read more.

MASSACHUSETTS CITY ELECTS TWO CAMBODIANS: Lowell, Massachusetts elected two Cambodian Americans to its city council — marking the first time two Cambodians have served simultaneously. Read more.

OTHER NOTABLE RACES: San Francisco’s Paul Miyamoto became the first Asian American sheriff in California; 50-year-old Tae Chong became the first Asian American to serve on the Portland City Council; Democratic councilman Arvin Amatorio became the second Filipino American mayor of Bergenfield, New Jersey; Camden County Freeholder Susan Shin Angulo was elected the first Korean American mayor of Cherry Hill, New Jersey; San Francisco school board incumbent and mayoral appointee Jenny Lam held on to her seat.