March 17, 2025 Newsletter

2025 California Democratic Party Convention Anaheim Convention Center May 30 – June 1 The 2025 convention will be taking place. This convention will include party leadership elections.
Registration will open in April. Information on the AAPI Caucus meeting and Caucus board elections will be available soon.

Convention Volunteers Needed Democrats – We Need You! Join us in sunny Orange County for the California Democratic Party State Convention in Anaheim! We’re looking for dedicated volunteers to help make this event a success and create an unforgettable experience. With your support, we’ll elect new Party Officers, Regional Directors, and begin the hard work of organizing for 2026. Dates: May 29 – June 1, 2025   Location: Anaheim Convention Center We need 300+ volunteers to assist with a variety of tasks, including: Registration & credentialing of attendees Greeting and directing guests General event support – and more! As a volunteer, you’ll: Work alongside passionate Democrats from across California. Gain a behind-the-scenes look at the organizing efforts driving our party Receive an Observer Pass to attend events for credentialed delegates after your shift! Ready to be part of our convention? Sign up now to secure your spot VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION FORM Important Notes: A mandatory training will be provided after you sign up. Volunteers are responsible for their own hotel and parking accommodations.

AAPI Caucus Board Elections At our Convention meeting, the Caucus will be holding elections for the 2025-2027 board. Members who join or renew at least 35 days before the gaveling into order of the first session of the CDP Convention are eligible to vote.

Renew your Caucus Membership for 2025
Memberships are now by calendar year, so if you haven’t renewed yet for 2025, it’s time to renew your caucus membership! To pay dues, go to https://cadem.org/caucuses/ and click on Caucus Dues.
AAPI Caucus Dues:
Annual Dues (January – December) Student / 65+ : $5 Standard Dues: $20
Lifetime Member Dues: $250 Lifetime Sustaining Member Dues: $500
Community Events Calendar
Friday, April 11: Asian Dems of Los Angeles Spring Mixer – https://www.asiandemsla.org/events.html

January 29, 2025 Newsletter

Assembly District Election Meeting (ADEM) Delegate Elections
Information for the 2025 ADEMs, as well as the links to register as a delegate candidate, are available at www.ademelections.com

VOTING: Democrats can register online for ADEMs. The deadline is extended until noon on Friday, January 31, 2025.
In-person registration for ADEMs (voting with a scantron ballot at an in-person ADEM location) will run from Monday, January 6, 2025, until Sunday, February 23, 2025.
Electronic voting credentials will be mailed on January 31, 2025, for those opting to vote electronically.
In-person ADEM meetings will be held Saturday, February 22 and Sunday, February 23, 2025. Because in-person voting is by scantron ballot, we will not have the results the weekend of the ADEM meetings. Results are expected by March 3, 2025.

Renew your Caucus Membership for 2025
It’s time to renew your caucus membership! To pay dues, go to https://cadem.org/caucuses/ and click on Caucus Dues.
AAPI Caucus Dues:
Annual Dues (January – December) Student / 65+ : $5 Standard Dues: $20
Lifetime Member Dues: $250 Lifetime Sustaining Member Dues: $500
New local club: Sonoma County Asian Pacific Islander Democratic Club To join or get in contact, please email Gil Dong at socoapidemclub@gmail.com or visit https://www.socoapidemclub.com/

December 13, 2024 Membership Meeting Agenda

December E-Board AAPI Caucus Membership Meeting: Friday, December 13, 6-8pm
The December executive board conference is online. Details are at https://cadem.org/executive-board/
Our Caucus will be meeting on Friday, December 13 from 6-8pm.
California Democratic Party Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus E-Board Meeting Agenda   Registration Link:  https://cadem-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcqf-ugpjguG9Nyv5HXfziTsOAZwTJAbjVn#/registration

I. Call to Order | Welcome

II. Approval of Agenda

III. Officer/Executive Board Reports 
a. State Chair’s Report (Deepa Sharma)

b. Vice Chair’s Report (Hon. Tammy Kim)

c. State Treasurer’s Report (Aref Aziz for Marilyn Cachola Lucey) Account balance: $ 16,896.23

d. State Communications Secretary’s Report (Alfred Twu)

e. State Recording Secretary’s Report (Shivam Patel)

f. Parliamentary Chair’s Report (Aref Aziz)

g. Legislative Director’s Report (Gurpreet Kaur) 

h. Northern California Region (Hon. Harris Mojadedi) Officers: Hon. Harris Mojadedi, Hon. Emily Ann Ramos, Hon. Rachel Hernandez, Lia Aiavao, Zahra Hajee, Diane Le

i. Southern California Region (Michael Milan for Hon. Jessica Caloza) Officers: Jessica Caloza, Michael Milan, Dr. Indroneal Banerjee, Dr. Andrew Murphy, Steve Kang

IV. Welcoming New AAPI Legislators 

V. Panel: Where We Go From Here, a Discussion with AAPI Caucus Membership


VI. Speakers (Advanced Sign up required, time permitting, https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Hp75E_1REzYMzszx3yV0ObLnNV2r5Rpb1viWvVGg9XM/edit

VII.   Adjournment

Nov 19 News – Volunteer for Ballot Curing, December Exec Board Conference, ADEM Delegate Elections

Volunteers Needed in Too Close to Call House Races
Thanks to your efforts, our Congressional candidates such as Derek Tran are ahead as vote counting continues.
Derek Tran and other House candidates here in CA remain too close to call. Ballot curing will ensure that we keep the lead to win this and other seats. The DCCC is hosting phonebanks for volunteers to help cure ballots. Sign up to volunteer here.
**In-language volunteers needed for ballot curing** If you have native Mandarin Chinese language ability OR native Korean language ability, and have some capacity during the work week, please email Sarah Lin (DCCC AANHPI Engagement Director) at slin@dccc.org.
December E-Board will be Virtual AAPI Caucus Membership Meeting: Friday, December 13, 6-8pm
The December executive board conference has been changed to online. Registration is open now through Dec 3 at https://cadem.org/executive-board/
Our Caucus will be meeting on Friday, December 13 from 6-8pm.Agenda and zoom link will be provided later.
Tentative Agenda
Assembly District Election Meeting (ADEM) Delegate Election Process
Regional Directors and staff are currently working to identify the 2025 ADEM delegate locations.
The CADEM ADEM website will be live by Monday, December 2.
CANDIDATES: The candidate application period will run from Monday, December 9 until Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
VOTERS: Democrats can register online for ADEMs from Monday, January 6, 2025, until Friday, January 24, 2025. In-person registration for ADEMs (voting with a scantron ballot at an in-person ADEM location) will run from Monday, January 6, 2025, until Sunday, February 22/23, 2025.
TRAINING: Candidate and voter training will be held on Thursday, January 23, 2025, 6-7:30 pm. To register, click the button link below.
Electronic voting credentials will be mailed on January 31, 2025, for those opting to vote electronically.
In-person ADEM meetings will be held Saturday, February 22 and Sunday, February 23, 2025. Because in-person voting is by scantron ballot, we will not have the results the weekend of the ADEM meetings. Results are expected by March 3, 2025.
More details will be coming next month. 2025 ADEM Procedures

October Events

October 19: AANHPI Mobilization for Harris-Walz in Nevada – RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/2024nvvictory/event/706047/

Saturday Evening Rally with President Obama in Las Vegas – RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/2024nvvictory/event/725637/

Can’t make the weekend of the 19th and want to go a different weekend? Click here to sign up for a bus trip!

Click here to join the Harris-Walz Virtual Phone Bank into battleground states. There are multiple shifts to join everyday.

October 26: – AAPI Day of Action for Derek Tran for Congress (CA 45) and Dave Min for Congress (CA 47) in partnership with the DCCC – AAPI Day of Action for Jessica Caloza for Assembly (Virtual & In-Person) – RSVP at tinyurl.com/TeamCaloza24

October 3 Newsletter

October Events
October 12: AAPI Day of Action for Darshana Patel in partnership with the CA AAPI Legislative Caucus, South Asians for Harris, SD AAPI Dems, & more:  10am, TBD Escondido
October 13: Mobilization for Derek Tran in partnership with Taiwanese Americans for Progress, South Asians for Harris, & more:  11am, sign up here:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdo4XiEYunZZ8AOVSwpmAs-zOU8v_pmvQudsEuOGJ9eF_eZzQ/viewform

October 19: AANHPI Mobilization for Harris-Walz in Nevada: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe3KPgR_10967v4jQc227oxjHGt5uVmzg10CMZrAXkXmGFpjg/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0
October 26: – AAPI Day of Action for Derek Tran for Congress (CA 45) and Dave Min for Congress (CA 47) in partnership with the DCCC – AAPI Day of Action for Jessica Caloza for Assembly (Virtual & In-Person)
Find CADEM Endorsed Candidates!
A list of candidates and Propositions endorsed by the party, as well as a search tool where voters can look up the endorsed candidates for where they live, is available at https://cadem.org/endorsements/
Five members of our board are running for office and have been endorsed by the party:
Jessica Caloza for Assembly
Rachel Hernandez for Riverbank Mayor
Tammy Kim for Irvine Mayor
Emily Ann Ramos for Mountain View City Council
Alfred Twu for Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board
Volunteer for the CADEM Voter Protection Team!
CADEM is looking for hotline operators and volunteer attorneys to make sure everyone’s right to vote is protected! Sign up at https://fs3.formsite.com/CADEM2011/CADEMVOTERPROTECTION/index

Voter Protection Team Hotline Operators
If any California voters have questions or encounter issues related to elections and voting, our CADEM Voter Protection Hotline Operators will take calls from voters who call 1-877-321-8683(VOTE) until the polls close on Election Day!
CADEM Voter Protection team will need to ramp up this effort from Thursday, October 17, 2024, to the Election, Tuesday, November 5, 2024, until the polls close, by recruiting and training volunteer operators who will be ready for the job!

Voter Protection Team Volunteer Attorneys
Our mission is to recruit hundreds of trained volunteer attorneys who will be dispatched around the state to handle questions and field potential voter disenfranchisement issues.
Renew Your Membership for 2024
There’s still time to renew your Caucus membership. This can be done online at https://onlinecampaigntools.com/WebForms/ViewForm?key=v3OgtUdQThjhzNZ%2FYfwUPw%3D%3D#%5Bpage=1%5D
If you would like to request fee waiver for economic hardship, please contact us at cademparty.apicaucus@gmail.com.
December E-Board will be Virtural
The December executive board conference has been changed to online. Registration is open now through Dec 3 at https://cadem.org/executive-board/

September 4 Newsletter

Sunday, Sept 8 Meet and Walk with Evan Low Join our Caucus, the Filipino-American Democratic Caucus, and the San Mateo County Asian American Pacific Islander Alliance in Pacifica!
Sunday, 4:30-7pm. Sharp Park GC Lot, 2600 Francisco Blvd, Pacifica RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/evanlowforcongress/event/678275/
Volunteer for the CADEM Voter Protection Team!
CADEM is looking for hotline operators and volunteer attorneys to make sure everyone’s right to vote is protected! Sign up at https://fs3.formsite.com/CADEM2011/CADEMVOTERPROTECTION/index

Voter Protection Team Hotline Operators
If any California voters have questions or encounter issues related to elections and voting, our CADEM Voter Protection Hotline Operators will take calls from voters who call 1-877-321-8683(VOTE) until the polls close on Election Day!
CADEM Voter Protection team will need to ramp up this effort from Thursday, October 17, 2024, to the Election, Tuesday, November 5, 2024, until the polls close, by recruiting and training volunteer operators who will be ready for the job!
Voter Protection Team Volunteer Attorneys
Our mission is to recruit hundreds of trained volunteer attorneys who will be dispatched around the state to handle questions and field potential voter disenfranchisement issues.
Renew Your Membership for 2024
There’s still time to renew your Caucus membership. This can be done online at https://onlinecampaigntools.com/WebForms/ViewForm?key=v3OgtUdQThjhzNZ%2FYfwUPw%3D%3D#%5Bpage=1%5D
If you would like to request fee waiver for economic hardship, please contact us at cademparty.apicaucus@gmail.com.
Community Events Calendar
PALAD Larry Itliong Legacy Awards Saturday, September 14 in West Hollywood secure.actblue.com/donate/paladawards2024
Asian Democrats of Los Angeles County’s Annual Awards Gala! bit.ly/ADLAC24 When: Saturday, September 21st, 6:30-8:30PM Where: NBC Seafood Dim Sum Restaurant (404 S Atlantic Blvd, Monterey Park, CA 91754)
Asian Democrats of Los Angeles County’s Annual Awards Gala! When: Saturday, September 21st, 6-9PM Where: San Carlos RSVP at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/aapifallfundraiser
Tentative CA Dem Calendar for 2024

December 2024 – E Board (Burlingame, CA)

All in for Kamala Organizing Call + Orange County Day of Action

California’s delegation to the Democratic National Convention is proud to support Kamala Harris for President! Get involved at bit.ly/aanhpiharriscall

Orange County AAPI Day of Action Congressional Districts 45 and 47 are critical for winning back Democratic control of the House of Representatives. Join us for a day of action in Orange County in support of Dave Min and Derek Tran. tinyurl.com/AAPI810
If your organization would like to join as a co-partner of this event, please contact Deepa at d.sharma23@yahoo.com

The California Democratic Party Endorses Propositions At the July 20 Executive Board Meeting, the party voted to endorse the following new Propositions:

Prop 2 – School Bond – Yes
Prop 4 – Climate Bond – Yes
Prop 5 – Local Bonds – Yes

The party’s full list of Proposition endorsements is now: Yes on 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 32, 33, 35 No on 36 For a list of all endorsements, please visit https://cadem.org/endorsements/

May 2024 Executive Board Conference Recap

Our Caucus had a productive time online and in San Diego for the California Democratic Party’s May 2024 Executive Board Conference. Here are some highlights:

Panel Discussion on AAPI Identity and Organizing in San Diego
Indroneal Banerjee moderated our panel discussion with Bill Wong, Judy Ki, and Gene Kim on the AAPI Identity and organizing in San Diego. The panel talked about the origin of AAPI identity in the mid 20th century, up through the present day where disaggregated data is needed to make sure that underserved communities aren’t left behind.
Panelists talked about the need for AAPI voters and leaders to not just “be seen” politically, but also to “be felt” and actively part of the decision making, and how it’s important to recruit people from communities that aren’t yet politically active for political jobs. Relational organizing and candidate training are important, and both need to start early.
Judy, who has been organizing in San Diego for decades, talked about her experience registering AAPI voters as Democrats, starting with young voters in the early 2000s and building the base to flip San Diego blue.

Mixer in San Diego the Asian American Pacific Islander Democratic Club of San Diego for a mixer in the Convoy District’s Jasmine Restaurant. 
Many thanks to our event partners, the California Young Democrats Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, UDW, Dr. Darshana Patel, Rep. Scott Peters, Rep. Sara Jacobs, and Carlsbad Mayor Pro Tem Priya Bhat-Patel.
Record number of AAPI Democrats elected to the Democratic National Committee from California
This year, the California Democratic Party had a record number of AAPI candidates running to represent our party on the Democratic National Committee for the 2024-2028 term. Keith Umemoto and Otto Lee were re-elected, and will be joined by Harini Krishnan and Jason Park.
We would like to thank the candidates for running and taking the time to come to speak to and hear from our Caucus.
California Democratic Party takes positions on 2024 Propositions

ACA 1 – Local government financing: affordable housing and public infrastructure: voter approval: SUPPORT

ACA 5 – Marriage Equality: SUPPORT

Referendum Challenging 2022 Law Prohibiting New Oil and Gas Wells Near Homes, Schools, and Hospitals: KEEP THE LAW

ACA 8 – End Slavery in California: SUPPORT

ACA 13 – Voting Thresholds: SUPPORT

Eliminates Employees’ Ability to File Lawsuits for Monetary Penalties for State Labor Law Violations: OPPOSE

Limits Ability of Voters and State and Local Governments to Raise Revenues for Government Services: OPPOSE

Adds One-Semester Personal Finance Course to High School Graduation Requirements: SUPPORT

Provides Permanent Funding for Medi-Cal Health Care Services: SUPPORT

Expands Local Governments’ Authority to Enact Rent Control on Residential Property: SUPPORT

Allows Felony Charges and Increases Sentences for Certain Drug and Theft Crimes: OPPOSE

Restricts Spending by Health Providers Meeting Specified Criteria: NO POSITION

Restricts Rights of Transgender Youth: OPPOSE
Note: As of May 28, this Proposition has failed to qualify for the ballot.

Raises Minimum Wage: SUPPORT

Provides Funding for Pandemic Detection and Prevention by Increasing Tax on Personal Income Over 5 Million: NO POSITION

Expands State Health Care Program for Children with Certain Medical Conditions: NO POSITION

California Democratic Party endorses legislation recommended by the AAPI Caucus
Our Legislative Director Gurpreet Kaur identified several priority bills that we requested the California Democratic Party take a support position on. These bills are:

AB 2603 (Low), Hate Crimes: Search Warrants This bill would allow access to social media feeds, files on computers, and other means to access crucial information that can prove if a hate crime has been committed without charging a felony to obtain it.

AB 2604 (Low), Hate Crimes This bill aims to protect victims of hate crimes by holding offenders accountably for the purposeful targeting of victims based on their protected characteristics.

AB 2074 (Muratsuchi), Pupil Instruction: English Learner Roadmap Policy: Statewide Implementation Plan This bill tasks the California Department of Education (CDE) with creating an implementation plan for the California English Learner Roadmap Policy (EL Roadmap).

SB 782 (Limon; Co-Author: Fong), Gubernatorial Appointments: Report This bill would require the office of the Governor, commencing January 1, 2026, to maintain on its internet website a list of every state board and commission that includes, for each state board or commission, the membership list, stated purpose, duties, meeting frequency, internet website, and vacancies in the membership.

SB 1078 (Min), Language Access This bill would establish the Office of Language Access, within the California Health and Human Services Agency, to ensure individuals with limited English proficiency have meaningful access to government programs and services.

SB 1170 (Menjivar), Political Reform Act of 1974: Campaign Funds This bill would expressly permit campaign funds to be used to pay or reimburse a non-incumbent candidate for reasonable and necessary mental healthcare expenses if the candidate does not have health insurance or has been denied coverage for mental healthcare expenses by their health insurance, as specified.

For a full list of bills the California Democratic Party has taken a position on, please see https://cadem.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024_May-Executive-Board-Floor-Packet.pdf

We also submitted a support request for AB2444, however, this bill was no longer active by the time of the E-Board meeting. AB 2444 (Lee), Barbering and Cosmetology: Licensees: Manicurists The bill will require the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology to notify manicurists and establishments about employee/independent contractor determination, better known as AB 5 (2019), through language-appropriate and culturally-appropriate methods.
California Democratic Party passes Resolutions and Reaffirmations
Resolutions Passed:
– Protecting Private Personal and Biometric Data
– 21st Century Economic Bill of Rights
– Establish Medicine Lake National Monument to Preserve the Sacred and Ecological Importance of Medicine Lake
– Over 200,000 Californians Lacking Shelter is a Public Health Crisis
– Denouncing Citi’s Anti-Armenian American Discrimination in Financial Services

Reaffirmations Passed
– Ending The Cycle of Systemic Child Poverty in America
– Transitioning to a Carbon Free Economy by 2030 and Protecting Union Jobs
– Standing with the more than 18 million Women and People of Reproductive Age Who No Longer Have Access to Abortion Care
– Reparations for Descendants of Persons Emancipated from Chattel Slavery in the US
– Calling on the Republican Party to Join Democrats in Addressing Climate Change
– Opposing the Exploitation of Vulnerable Migrants
– A More Equitable Education for All California Public School Students
– Supporting a Durable Peace and Cease-Fire in Gaza
The full texts can be viewed at
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1e6HLiEW2VlsIeJOhbdDD1LiK5bM4S8Jdlr2fHfh93U8/edit#gid=605839692
Renew Your Membership for 2024
There’s still time to renew your Caucus membership. This can be done online at https://onlinecampaigntools.com/WebForms/ViewForm?key=v3OgtUdQThjhzNZ%2FYfwUPw%3D%3D#%5Bpage=1%5D
If you would like to request fee waiver for economic hardship, please contact us at cademparty.apicaucus@gmail.com.
Community Events Calendar California Young Democrats API Caucus Awards Thursday, May 30, 2024 6-8pm Audio Graph Beer Co. in Downtown Los Angeles, 1203 S. Olive St. Los Angeles https://secure.actblue.com/donate/cydapicaucus2024

Pacific Islander Democratic Committee Interest Meeting Wednesday, June 12, 2024 6-7pm Online on Zoom – bit.ly/PIDCinfo

Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus of Alameda County Annual Membership Dinner Thursday, June 20, 2024 6-9pm Raja Indian Cuisine, 1275 W. Winton Ave, Hayward https://secure.actblue.com/donate/din24
Tentative CA Dem Calendar for 2024
Early August – E Board Date TBD (Virtual on Whova)
Mon, August 19, 2024 – Thu, Aug 22, 2024 – 2024 Democratic National Convention Chicago IL.
August 23, 2024 – DNC Committee Members Four-year term begins
December 2024 – E Board (Northern CA Location TBD)

Caucus Mixer in San Diego – Friday, May 17

Thursday, May 16 – 6:00-7:30pm – Online
Membership Meeting
Panel discussion on the AAPI Identity, and a discussion on AAPI organizing in San Diego

RSVP at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0scOGhqj8sEtR7LoL3wiK4MPvsUn6s8wte#/registration

There may be time after the panel discussion for non-candidate announcements. Please sign up at https://forms.gle/9bYS5ivPHGwYDdMv7

Friday, May 17, 3-5pm
AAPI Caucus Mixer in San Diego’s Convoy District

Join us for food and drink at the Jasmine Seafood Restaurant, 4609 Convoy Street, Suite A 1/2, San Diego.

Recordings now available for our Legislative Update and DNC Candidate Forum

Legislative Update: Our Caucus board members Alfred Twu and Gurpreet Kaur led a program on this year’s legislative and budget process, as well as updates on legislation on issues such as hate crimes, language access, education, employment, appointments, mental health, and housing.

Watch the recording at https://www.facebook.com/apicaucus/videos/815254160455252

DNC Candidate Forum
Watch the recording at https://www.facebook.com/apicaucus/videos/460157026465318/