AAPI Progressive Action Endorses Four Candidates Heading into Virginia Primary

For Immediate Release
June 5, 2019

Media Contact:
Joyce Liu
jliu@veng-group.com

WASHINGTON—AAPI Progressive Action works to empower Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for a strong and diverse America. It is committed to supporting progressive candidates. For the 2019 Virginia Primary on June 11, AAPI Progressive Action proudly endorses:

Democrats swept the Virginia executive branch elections in 2017. However, the Republicans maintained a majority in the Virginia Senate (21-19) and in the Virginia House of Delegates (51-49). We are working to change that by flipping the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates for the Virginia General Elections on November 5th. To do so, we have identified four AAPI candidates that will be competitive as we head toward the June primary.

“We are pleased to endorse Ghazala Hashmi, Veena Lothe, Qasim Rashid and Suhas Subramanyam for elected office in Virginia. These exceptional candidates are part of the emerging trend of the changing demographics of America. They have unique backgrounds that reflect communities that are rising in numbers and stature,” said our chair Dr. Tung Nguyen. “AAPI increases in the Virginia are staggering, and capturing their votes are key to progressive victories in the House of Delegates and State Senate races.”

“After extensive vetting of the candidates running for elected office in Virginia, Ghazala Hashmi, Veena Lothe, Qasim Rashid and Suhas Subramanyam came to the top of our lists,” said our executive director Varun Nikore. “We are seeing a significant growth in the AAPI electorate over the past decade. In both Henrico and Loudoun counties, the AAPI electorate nearly tripled from 2014 to 2018. Today, AAPIs represent nearly 10% of the electorate in Loudoun County. As the AAPI community continues to grow in Virginia, it is essential that Democrats invest in AAPI candidates and put commensurate resources into the AAPI voter outreach. Had that been done in 2017, the Democrats may have solidly put the Virginia Legislature in the blue.”

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Paid for by AAPI Progressive Action, a project of Tides Advocacy

Paid for by AAPI Progressive Action, a project of Tides Advocacy

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