News – Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus

September 24, 2025 Alfred Twu News

Yes on 50 AAPI Phonebanks Every Thursday 6-8pm

Along with the Filipino American Democratic Caucus and many other organizations, we’re calling AAPI voters every Thursday evening 6-8pm for Yes on Prop 50. Sign Up at https://www.mobilize.us/cadems/event/846944/

Find other phonebanks, canvasses, and other Yes on 50 events near you at www.cadem.org/castrong

Election Day is this November 4, 2025. Vote-by-mail ballots will be sent to voters in early October. Know anyone that moved or became eligible to vote recently? They can check to see if they’re registered, or register if needed, at RegisterToVote.ca.gov

Help Create the 2026 California Democratic Party Platform
Every two years, the California Democratic Party updates our party platform. Over the next several weeks, there will be Zoom calls where you can give testimony, as well as an online form to submit written comments. There are two Zoom calls coming up next week..

Wednesday, October 1, 6:30 PM Planks Accepting Testimony: Criminal Justice, Gun Violence Prevention, Internet and Free Speech https://cadem-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/VZdVtSqsTeKlDFI3pfYwjg#/registration

Saturday, October 4, 11:00 AM Planks Accepting Testimony: Education, Children, Culture and the Arts, Women https://cadem-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/4IinW7rDT9mkWPT5ollfig#/registration

Full list of the hearings are at https://cadem.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2026-Testimony-Hearing-Schedule.pdf
You can also send in written comments at https://fs3.formsite.com/CADEM2011/fat6zmokwi/index

CADEM Executive Board Meeting – October 24-26, Monterey
In lieu of an in-person meeting, the AAPI Caucus will meet briefly online at 5:30pm on Thursday, October 23, after which we will join our weekly Thursday phonebank.
For full E-Board details & registration at https://cadem.org/executive-board/

Community Events Calendar

Saturday, September 27 Rise and Resist – Asian Democrats of Los Angeles County Annual Awards Ceremony https://www.asiandemsla.org/events.html

Wednesday, October 1 AAPI Immigration Panel with the AAPI Democrats of San Diego
Details at https://www.facebook.com/AAPIDemsSD/posts/pfbid0q75SYe6Bq9YnhJgz2zB4EZ4TLdNX1TwphFoLuJZC9oEYUacXB1aVrJoSjj2ueykSl?__tn__=%2CO*F

September 17, 2025 Alfred Twu News

AAPIs United for Prop 50 Coalition Meeting Thursday, September 18, 6 – 7 PM

The California Democratic Party is hosting an AAPIs United for Prop 50 Coalition Meeting this Thursday, September 18. As a leader in the AAPI community, we hope you can join us. Zoom Link: https://cadem-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/DC521EZeRKqno3pL3Sva2g

CADEM Vice Chair Deepa Sharma, AAPI Caucus Chair Harris Mojadedi, Filipino American Caucus Chair Cameron Sasai, and DNC Member Harini Krishnan are building the coalition to organize and mobilize our communities.

Whether or not you can make Thursday’s organizing call, sign up for updates at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSed3Nanqy5czlPltHm5A6mcO2kY-J06sMQC9zo-DMCU3il6RQ/viewform

Vote Yes on Prop 50! The California Democratic Party endorses Yes on 50 to level the playing field for Congressional elections.
Find phonebanks, canvasses, and other Yes on 50 events near you at www.cadem.org/castrong

Election Day is this November 4, 2025. Vote-by-mail ballots will be sent to voters in early October. Know anyone that moved or became eligible to vote recently? They can check to see if they’re registered, or register if needed, at RegisterToVote.ca.gov

Help Create the 2026 California Democratic Party Platform
Every two years, the California Democratic Party updates our party platform. Over the next several weeks, there will be Zoom calls where you can give testimony, as well as an online form to submit written comments. There are a total of six Zoom calls, the first two are this week.

Wednesday, September 17, 6:30 PM
Planks Accepting Testimony: Labor, Economic Justice, Poverty Elimination, and Affordable Housing, Business and Economy, Equality of Rights and Opportunity, Disabilities
https://cadem-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/o5kqM5JfQ4ez6U_-mDexGQ

Saturday, September 20, 11:00 AM
Planks Accepting Testimony: Civil Justice, Political Reform, World Peace and International Relations, National Security
https://cadem-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/UcGhGQR-S5qGlpNFV7mA7A

Full list of the hearings are at https://cadem.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2026-Testimony-Hearing-Schedule.pdf

You can also send in written comments at https://fs3.formsite.com/CADEM2011/fat6zmokwi/index

CADEM Executive Board Meeting – October 24-26, Monterey
Details & Registration at https://cadem.org/executive-board/

Community Events Calendar

Wednesday, October 1 AAPI Immigration Panel with the AAPI Democrats of San Diego
Details at https://www.facebook.com/AAPIDemsSD/posts/pfbid0q75SYe6Bq9YnhJgz2zB4EZ4TLdNX1TwphFoLuJZC9oEYUacXB1aVrJoSjj2ueykSl?__tn__=%2CO*F

September 6, 2025 Alfred Twu News

Volunteer Now for Yes on Prop 50

California Democratic Party Supports AAPI Priority Legislation
Led by our Legislative Chair Gurpreet Kaur, our Caucus submitted requests for the party to support several bills on the California Legislature’s AAPI Legislative Caucus priority list.

At the August Executive Board Meeting, the California Democratic Party voted to support our requested bills as priority bills for Democratic legislators to vote Yes on.

AB 49 (Muratsuchi) Prohibits U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers from entering a school site or child care facility for any purpose without providing valid identification, a written statement of purpose, a valid judicial warrant, and approval from the school district’s superintendent or director of the child care center. The bill also requires that if an ICE official meets the requirements to enter a school site or childcare facility, their access would be restricted to where students or children are not present.

AB 695 (Fong) Establishes the CA Community Colleges Access and Continuity for Deported Students Act to provide deported California Community Colleges students the opportunity to continue their education online after leaving the United States.

AB 863 (Kalra) Requires a translated eviction notice, complaint, and summons to be provided to tenants who have either negotiated their lease in another language or if the landlord has reason to believe they speak one of the top five non-English languages in California as their primary language: Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean.

AB 1348 (Bains) Makes immigration enforcement activities that result in mass absences in schools a qualifying event for the purpose of calculating average daily attendance for funding after an emergency.

AB 1362 (Kalra) Closes a loophole in current labor law by clarifying that all foreign labor contractors have worker rights as temporary immigrant workers, with only two exceptions: J-1 visas and talent agency recruiters.

SB 509 (Caballero) Requires the Office of Emergency Services to work in cooperation with the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to develop a training on recognizing and responding to transnational repression. The bill also defines transnational repression in order to provide clarity to law enforcement, and specifies that it is state policy to protect Californians against transnational repression and hold foreign governments accountable for committing those acts.

For a full list of legislation the the California Democratic Party has taken positions on, please see pages 20-24 of the Executive Board Floor Report at https://cadem.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025-August-EBoard-Floor-Report_Saturday-August-23-2025.pdf

July 24, 2025 Alfred Twu News

July Newsletter

California Democratic Party Executive Board Meeting Week of August 22-August 24

The Summer E-Board meeting will be online, and is scheduled for the week of August 22-24. Registration is open now at https://cadem.org/executive-board/
Our Caucus will have an online membership meeting as part of the conference. Details and time to follow.

Welcome Anish Mohanty & Talavou (Vou) Aumavae

Anish Mohanty is joining us as our Digital Outreach Chair.
Anish is a digital strategist, political communicator, and proud Asian American organizer based in the Bay Area. He has led digital strategy for progressive campaigns at the national, state, and local levels, including for U.S. Senator Ed Markey and California Treasurer Fiona Ma. He previously served as Communications Director for both Gen-Z for Change and Assemblymember Liz Ortega, helping shape advocacy and communications strategies grounded in authenticity and youth-driven action.

Anish first discovered the power of storytelling at 16, when he produced a documentary about children at Adruta Children’s Home in Odisha, India. The project raised funds for new facilities and sparked his belief that creative media could be a tool for justice. He has since worked to blend aesthetics with advocacy—experimenting with cinematic video, campaign photography, and platform innovation to move people and shape narratives. For his work uplifting community voices, he received the Manorama Memorial Award in 2022 and the Youth Service Award in 2024 from the Odia Society of the Americas.

In addition to his role with the AAPI Caucus, Anish serves as Communications Officer for the California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus, a Steering Committee Member of the Working Families Party, a Board Member of Project Super Bloom PAC, and Communications Co-Chair of the San Mateo County AAPI Alliance. He is also an Arts & Culture Commissioner and Sister Cities Committee Member for Union City, California.

As Digital Outreach Chair, Anish is focused on deepening the AAPI Caucus’s digital presence through storytelling that reflects our communities, content that inspires civic action, and strategies that make politics feel more human, creative, and connected.
https://aapicaucus.com/digital-outreach-chair/

Talavou (Vou) Aumavae is joining us as our Professional Development Chair.
Talavou is a dedicated community organizer, civic leader, and political science graduate whose work centers on empowering Pacific Islander communities and advancing equity through culturally rooted initiatives. With over a decade of experience in advocacy, nonprofit leadership, and public service, Talavou has consistently championed the inclusion and visibility of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) voices in civic and policy spaces.

As the Founder and President of the Pacific Islander Democratic Club in San Mateo County—one of the nation’s first of its kind—Talavou has been instrumental in building political power and engagement within the PI community. Their leadership in voter outreach efforts, including as Chair for NHPI coalitions in multiple presidential campaigns, has mobilized historically underrepresented communities to the ballot box.

Whether serving on the board of Samoan Solutions, leading student organizations like the Pacific Islander Student Association at SFSU, or coordinating cultural education programs, Talavou brings a deep sense of purpose rooted in service, identity, and justice. Their vision is grounded in collective liberation and the belief that Pacific Islanders deserve not only a seat at the table, but the power to shape it. https://aapicaucus.com/about-us/executive-board/professional-development-chair/

Community Events Calendar

Saturday, July 26
Edwin M. Lee Asian Pacific Democratic Club – Chinatown Food Tour https://www.edleedems.org/news/7-26-democrats-on-the-move-exploring-the-heart-of-chinatown-with-special-guest-supervisor-danny-sauter

Thursday, July 31 Last day to apply for San Mateo County AAPI Alliance’s Rising Stars Fellowship, https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd62ZISwZh6MCNxj816lQ7AO67qLo8km-e2C1iz-_mh54oQQQ/viewform

Thursday, Sept 11: Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus of Alameda County Annual Membership Meeting and Fundraiser – Alameda, CA https://secure.actblue.com/donate/din25

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

March 18, 2025 Alfred Twu News

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 30, 2025 Alfred Twu News

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 10, 2024December 11, 2024 Alfred Twu News

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

November 20, 2024November 20, 2024 Alfred Twu News

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

September 5, 2024September 5, 2024 Alfred Twu News

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)

July 27, 2024July 27, 2024 Alfred Twu kamala, News

Category: News