Politics
Asian American Democrats Rally Behind Kamala Harris as AAPI Caucus Highlights Her Identity
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois speaks during an Asian American Pacific Islander caucus meeting as part of the Democratic National Convention at McCormick Place on Aug. 19, 2024. (Eunice Alpasan / WTTW News)
Local and national Asian American and Pacific Islander Democratic elected officials gathered Monday morning at McCormick Place to highlight the role of Asian American voters and rally behind Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois were among the leaders who attended the AAPI caucus meeting, coinciding with a variety of caucus and council meetings being held throughout the week during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
A key theme of the meeting included highlighting the importance of capturing the votes of Asian Americans — the fastest-growing racial group in the U.S. — in key battleground states.
“We are the margin of victory,” Duckworth said to attendees. “We need to reach out to our communities all across the country.”
During the caucus meeting, speakers also highlighted the fact that Harris, who is of Jamaican and Indian descent, would become the first Black and Asian American woman to serve as U.S. president if she were to win the election.
Democratic vice presidential pick and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz made an appearance during the caucus meeting, referencing former president and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump as he spoke to attendees.
“I know all of you in this room know that the alternative is not a place we want to go back to,” Walz said.
“We’re not going back!” someone in the crowd shouted back.
AAPI representation in Congress has seen an increase, particularly in the last 20 years.
Today, 22 elected officials in the U.S. Congress identify as Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, according to U.S. Rep. Judy Chu of California, who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
Krishnamoorthi also echoed the importance of having that representation in politics.
“There’s that old saying in Washington, D.C., ‘If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re on the menu,’” Krishnamoorthi said. “We can never afford to be on the menu; we are pulling up our proverbial seats to the table, and now, it’s time to eat.”
Contact Eunice Alpasan: @eunicealpasan | 773-509-5362 | [email protected]
