By Louis Chan, AsAmNews National Correspondent
Several Asian Americans may be in the running to be appointed by California Gov Gavin Newsom for State Attorney General.
Asian American political leaders held a virtual rally Friday evening to urge the Governor to select an Asian American. The position will open up once the US Senate confirms Xavier Becerra for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
“AAPIs are far too often overlooked and passed over no matter how qualified we are.” said Oakland City Councilwoman Sheng Thao, the President of the League of California Cities API Caucus. “It’s important we recognize the diverse constituents.”
Among those mentioned to be in contention are Assemblyperson Rob Bonta and California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu.
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Bonta’s supporters held their own virtual rally to push his selection on January 6. Bonta is the first Filipino American ever elected to the California State legislature.
“Today we uplift Rob Bonta for our choice for CA Attorney General,” said Robert Chua, Northern California Chair of the Fil Am Democratic Caucus, at that rally earlier this month.
Just recently, more than 160 people from the Asian American community signed a letter supporting the selection of Liu.
“He has earned the reputation as a fair and thoughtful jurist,” the letter reads. “He has gained a comprehensive understanding of the work of the State Department of Justice, including immigration, labor, and employment, health care, racial justice and other issues that impact the AAPI community.”
Assemblymembers Ash Kalra and David Chiu, as well as Rep Ro Khanna have also been mentioned, but have not organized any public appeals.
The push for an Asian American comes on the heels of an unsuccessful campaign for an Asian American cabinet secretary in the Biden administration.
“I can’t tell you how severely disappointed we were,” Chu said Friday at the rally, “but it resulted in some gains. It showed the AAPI community would not be silent. We know the pressure we created resulted in a number of AAPIs in top positions in government.”
The President nominated Neera Tanden to run the Office of Management and Budget, Vivek Murthy for US Surgeon General, Katherine Tai for US Trade Representative, Julie Soo for Deputy Secretary of Labor and Vivek Chopra to direct the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Chu, who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, also points to President Biden’s signing of an executive memo on anti-Asian racism.
So far Gov Newsom has chosen Secretary of State Alex Padilla to replace Kamala Harris in the Senate. Padilla becomes the first Latino from California in that position.
To fill the secretary of State position, he chose Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, the first Black person to hold that position.
“We have many qualified candidates who would make a great Attorney General,” said Assemblyperson Richard Pan, who chairs California’s API Legislative Caucus. “Gov Newsom, you actually have many outstanding choices. It is important because you have those choices that you pick an AAPI to be Attorney General.”
Pan emphasized that different segments in the community may favor individual candidates, but in the end, he says the unified message must be that Newsom choose an Asian American or Pacific Islander for Attorney General.
“It would be of immense benefit to all of California,” said Chu. “Together we must work to make sure our voices are heard loud and clear to make sure AAPIs are included in leadership roles.
Asian Americans make up 16 percent of California’s population and currently have 11 elected members to the legislature, along with State Treasurer Fiona Ma and State Controller Betty Yee.
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