The incoming US Congress is set to include a record six lawmakers of Chinese descent following the victory of Democrat Richard Pan in a California House race. Pan defeated incumbent Kevin Kiley in California’s 6th Congressional District by 15 percentage points, according to results from Wednesday morning. Pan will join the House when the 120th Congress convenes in January.
“I’m proud to be part of the growing Asian-American representation in Congress,” Pan said in a statement to South China Morning Post. He stated he looks forward to lowering costs for working families, protecting healthcare access, defending democracy, and ensuring the Asian-American community has more champions in Washington.
The 61-year-old doctor and son of Taiwanese immigrants previously served in the California legislature from 2010 to 2022, first in the State Assembly and then in the Senate. During his time in the Senate, he focused on public health issues and served as chair of the California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus.
Pan’s victory in the newly redrawn Sacramento-area district was widely anticipated. A USC poll released shortly before the election showed Pan leading Kiley 51 per cent to 38 per cent among likely voters. Kiley, a former Republican, ran as a candidate with no party preference.
In another high-profile race to succeed former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in California’s 11th District, San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan trailed state Senator Scott Wiener in the latest results. Chan, who has Hong Kong and Taiwanese roots, campaigned heavily in San Francisco’s Chinese-speaking communities, including Chinatown and the west side. She spoke Chinese during debates, used Chinese-language advertisements, and visited a Chinese temple to pray during the final days of her campaign. Her campaign also touted endorsements from Gary Locke, a former governor of Washington state and former US ambassador to China.
Pan’s election brings the total number of lawmakers of Chinese descent in Congress to six. This group includes four other House members: Republican Vince Fong and Democrats Judy Chu and Ted Lieu, all from California, and Grace Meng of New York. The count also includes Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat of Thai and Chinese ancestry.
Judy Chu, who was elected to Congress in 2009, told SCMP that representation matters because it makes Asian-Americans feel they belong in government and ensures their lived experiences are reflected in policymaking. “I am proud of the increased representation we see today and how it has strengthened our ability to advocate for our communities,” Chu said. “Congress works best when it looks like the country it serves.”
Grace Meng, who now leads the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (formerly chaired by Chu), said in a statement to SCMP that Dr. Richard Pan’s victory marks a "historic milestone." She added that they will continue fighting to ensure diverse communities are seen, heard, and represented.
In August, Meng, Lieu, and Chu issued a joint statement condemning comments on a right-wing podcast advocating for the internment of Chinese-Americans in camps during a hypothetical war with China. The statement said they were "appalled" by comments that "invoke centuries-old racist tropes that cast Chinese Americans as perpetual foreigners and question their loyalty to the United States."
While Duckworth was born in Thailand, she generally identifies as Asian-American. According to Wikipedia’s list of Asian-American and Pacific Islander members of Congress, 22 members of the current Congress are of Asian descent out of 535 voting members.
Chinese-American representation dates back to Hiram Fong, a Republican from Hawaii who became the first person of Chinese descent elected to Congress when he entered the Senate in 1959.
Christine Chen, executive director of APIAVote, said it has been a long time coming to see this growth. She noted that the increase is timely as Chinese and other Asian-Americans face proposed laws restricting land ownership and rhetoric framing them as caught between US-China competition. “It’s important to have Chinese-Americans represented so that we have a voice to continue educating their peers,” Chen said.
