First Korean-American Elected to U.S. House
“Will Protect Democracy” – Victory Statement
Four Korean-Americans Elected to U.S. House
A photo of Korean-American politician Dave Min (48), California State Senator, participating in a debate last July at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. Sacramento=AP/Reuters.
Dave Min (48), a Korean-American politician who has been serving as a state senator in California, is set to join the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time.
According to CNN on the 13th (local time), Min secured 50.9% of the votes with 89% of the ballots counted in the race for the U.S. House of Representatives for California’s 47th district, making his victory almost certain. His opponent, Republican Scott Baugh, received 49.1% of the votes.
Min declared his victory through platforms like Facebook, stating, “Many are worried about the future of America, but we cannot give up on this nation.” He pledged to “fight to protect democracy in Congress, safeguard freedom, and expand economic opportunities.”
Min was born in the United States and is a second-generation Korean American. He graduated from Harvard Law School and served as a corporate law professor at the University of California, Irvine. He later became involved in politics as an economic and financial policy advisor to Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. After serving as a California State Senator, he ran for the House of Representatives this year with the endorsement of Democratic Congresswoman Katie Porter, who ran for the U.S. Senate.
With Min’s election, the total number of Korean-Americans who succeeded in this year’s federal congressional elections has risen to four. Andy Kim (Democrat, New Jersey) was the first Korean-American to be elected to the Senate, while Young Kim (Republican, California) and Marilyn Strickland (Democrat, Washington) each secured their third term in the House. Additionally, Republican Michelle Park Steel (California) is leading her opponent by 0.8 percentage points with 50.4% of the votes as she vies for a third term.