Election of Vince Fong signals rightward shift for Asian Americans

Chinese American Vince Fong, a former California State Assembly member, is completing the term of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. This promises many changes for both Asian Americans as well as Republicans, as Fong’s position secures a six-seat majority in the House of Representatives.

While he had initially been ruled ineligible to replace McCarthy back in 2023, Fong filed a lawsuit leading to the Sacramento County Superior Court repealing state laws that restricted candidates from simultaneously running in multiple races.

After being voted out of as House Speaker, McCarthy worked to promote Fong’s candidacy.

NBC reports that Fong says progressives have “moved in a direction that’s antithetical” to Asian American principles.

California’s 20th Congressional District is the reddest district in the state, according to The Cook Political Report. While California is known to be a heavily Asian American populated state, Asian Americans only comprise 7% of the 20th District.

The Asian American community in Central Valley have been rallying for lower taxes and cost of living, as well as better water access for their farms and protections for small businesses.

Vong Mouanoutoua, the first Hmong pro tempore mayor of Clovis, told NBC that “Our needs in the Central Valley are not unique but they are more pronounced because of the dominance of L.A. and San Francisco representation.”

In response to these Asian American voices, Fong pushes his platform of reining in fiscal spending, lowering taxes and bolstering law enforcement to fight Asian hate crimes.

“To be able to represent my hometown in Congress is something I’d never imagined,” Fong said. “Now the real work begins.”