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/
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.
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
Community Events CalendarCalifornia 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)
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.
May is AAPI Heritage Month! We’re excited to bring you four events this month. Monday, May 6 – 7:30-8:30pm – Online AAPI Caucus Spills the Tea: Learn about the Legislative Process and How to Advocate for Legislation With AAPI Caucus Legislative Director Gurpreet Kaur Communications Director Alfred Twu, and Moderated by Northern Chair Hon. Harris Mojadedi
Our Caucus board members Alfred Twu and Gurpreet Kaur will be leading 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. Sign up here to join us.
Friday, May 17 (Time *TBD* – Afternoon) AAPI Caucus Mixer in San Diego’s Convoy District Join us for food, drinks, and meet Caucus members and local AAPI Democrats in person! Details will be available soon.
Community Events Calendar Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs (APAPA) Asian Heritage Month Celebration Tuesday, May 7, 2024 5pm Reception, 6pm Program APAPA HQ, 4000 Truxel Road, Sacramento https://www.apapa.org/upcoming-events/asian-heritage-month-2024 Silicon Valley Asian Pacific American Democratic Club AAPI Heritage Month Event Saturday, May 11, 2024 11:30am-1pm Ludwig’s Biergarten, 383 Castro St, Mountain View CA 94041 https://secure.actblue.com/donate/aaphim24
Tentative CA Dem Calendar for 2024 May 4, 2024 – Virtual 2025 Post Primary Endorsing Caucuses May 17-19, 2024 – E Board in San Diego – Registration is now open! May 18, 2024 – Election of California Democratic National Committee Members May 18, 2024 – Statewide Delegation Meeting (At-Large and PLEO Delegates Selected) – Location TBD 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 5-8, 2024 – E Board (Northern CA Location TBD)
Details and registration link will be coming soon. We are also planning an in-person event in San Diego during the in-person part of the Executive Board conference (May 17-19).
——————————— Request your Ballot to vote for District Level Delegates to the Democratic National Convention Voting is electronic this year for selecting District Level Delegates. The deadline to request your ballot is April 11 at 5pm. Request your ballot here. https://delegateapplication.com/register/voter
Apply to be an At-Large or PLEO Delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago California Democrats will send 496 delegates and 35 Alternates to the Democratic National Convention in 2024. All pledged delegates from California will be Biden delegates. At-Large and PLEO Delegates are chosen by the Presidential Campaign, keeping in mind our affirmative action goals, and confirmed by the Statewide Delegation at the May 18, 2024 meeting. Learn more at https://cadem.org/democratic-national-convention/ The deadline to apply to run to be a District Level Delegate is March 21, 2024 at 5pm. For at-large and Party Leader Elected Official (PLEO) Delegates, the deadline is April 24. CADEM has prepared graphics in English, Hindi, Korean, Punjabi, Chinese (simplified), Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. You can download the graphics here.
——————————— Upcoming CADEM Committee Meetings Rules Committee – Special Rules Committee Meeting Thursday, April 11, 2024 Time: 6:00pm Zoom Link: Coming soon Please stay tuned for more information on upcoming Rules Subcommittee meetings at: https://cadem.org/standing-committee/rules-committee/ Legislation – The Legislation position submission portal is now open for the May 17 – 19, 2024, EBoard Meeting – please go here for a letter from the CDP Legislation Committee Co-Chairs. Link to submit Legislation April 17th, 2024- Submission Deadline to submit Legislation May 3rd, 2024- Consent Call May 17th, 2024- Eboard Legislation Committee Meeting, Location & Time TBA Visit the CDP Legislation Committee page here – https://cadem.org/standing-committee/legislation-committee/ – for submission instructions and endorsement criteria. On this page, you’ll find essential resources to help align your legislation potions request proposals with the CDP Platform. Resolutions – The Resolutions Committee will meet to consider ballot measures and resolutions at the May 2024 Executive Board Meeting, held May 17 – 19, 2024. The deadline to submit resolutions in time in time to be considered for the May EBoard meeting is Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 12PM (NOON) Visit the CDP Resolutions Committee page here – https://cadem.org/standing-committee/resolutions-committee/
Tentative CA Dem Calendar for 2024 April 17, 2024 – Democratic National Committee (DNC) Member Application Close April 18, 2024 – Notice DNC Member Election April 21, 2024 – National Convention District-Level Delegate Caucus Elections April 24, 2024 – National Convention At-Large & PLEO Delegate Application Close May 4, 2024 – Virtual 2025 Post Primary Endorsing Caucuses May 17-19, 2024 – E Board in San Diego – Registration is now open! May 18, 2024 – Election of California Democratic National Committee Members May 18, 2024 – Statewide Delegation Meeting (At-Large and PLEO Delegates Selected) – Location TBD 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 5-8, 2024 – E Board (Northern CA Location TBD)
California Democrats will send 496 delegates and 35 Alternates to the Democratic National Convention in 2024. All pledged delegates are allocated to the presidential candidates according to the results of the March 5, 2024 Primary. At-Large and PLEO Delegates are chosen by the Presidential Campaigns, keeping in mind our affirmative action goals, and confirmed by the Statewide Delegation at the May 18, 2024 meeting. Learn more at https://cadem.org/democratic-national-convention/ The deadline to apply to run to be a District Level Delegate is March 21, 2024 at 5pm. The deadline to apply to be an At Large or Party Leader Elected Official (PLEO) delegate is April 24.
CADEM has prepared graphics in English, Hindi, Korean, Punjabi, Chinese (simplified), Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
You can download the graphics here. Ramadan Mubarak to all observing this holy month. May we live in a world where everyone gets to pray in peace. We wish a happy and prosperous Sikh New Year to all in our Sikh community!
Tentative CA Dem Calendar for 2024 March 21, 2024 – National Convention District-Level Delegate Application Close April 17, 2024 – Democratic National Committee (DNC) Member Application Close April 18, 2024 – Notice DNC Member Election April 21, 2024 – National Convention District-Level Delegate Caucus Elections April 24, 2024 – National Convention At-Large & PLEO Delegate Application Close May 4, 2024 – Virtual 2025 Post Primary Endorsing Caucuses
May 17-19, 2024 – E Board in San Diego – Registration is now open! May 18, 2024 – Election of California Democratic National Committee Members May 18, 2024 – Statewide Delegation Meeting (At-Large and PLEO Delegates Selected) – Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina
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 5-8, 2024 – E Board (Northern CA Location TBD)
Every two years, the California Democratic Party updates and adopts our Party’s Platform– representing 10 million Democrat’s values, collective vision, and aspirations.
Beginning in June, the CDP Platform Committee conducted testimony hearings and received over 160 pieces of testimony and language entries. By the end of August, the Committee had collected over a dozen pieces of amendments for the first draft of the Platform.
This November, the Committee plans to meet to adopt their Draft Report in preparation for the 2023 November State Endorsing Convention. Join us for this critical virtual meeting on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 10am. You can register for the meeting at cadem.org/Nov4.
CADEM Pre-Endorsement Voting Ballots have been sent on Saturday, October 14 to delegates and Democratic club voting representatives for Pre-Endorsements. If you did not get an email but were expecting one, there could be two reasons: There are no pre-endorsements in your area, because incumbents are running and were not pulled from the consent agenda. See here for a list of Assembly, State Senate, and Congressional elections that pre-endorsements are being done for. https://cadem.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-Pre-Endorsing-Conference-Assignments.pdf The email did not go through. Check your junk mail folder. If you still can’t find it, contact endorsements@cadem.org or call (916) 442-5707 M-F between 9am-6pm(PST).
Meet our San Diego Vice Chair, Indroneal Bannerjee Dr. Indroneal (Indro) Banerjee (He/Him) is the current President of the Asian American Pacific Islander club of San Diego (San Diego County Democratic Party-Club of the Year 2022), a position he has held since 2020. He is also the Treasurer of the Clairemont Democratic club, and an Associate Member of the San Diego County Democratic Party’s Central Committee. Indro has also served as a California Democratic Party Assembly District Delegate since 2020. It is his belief that the AAPI Communities can be a force for positive change in the party and state. Indro is a trained Molecular Biologist, and for ~15 years worked as a bench scientist as several research centers (e.g., the NASA Ames Research Facility, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, and UCSD School of Medicine). During this time, he earned a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology (University of South Carolina), Postdoctoral Fellowship, funding from NIH, AHA and Industry sources as well as published 27 peer-reviewed papers and over 30+ presentations. After leaving academics he has spent the last 8 years in life-sciences industry focusing in Medical Affairs. He also holds a BA in English, and a BS in Molecular Biology from San Jose State. Indro currently lives in San Diego his wife Fiona..
AC Transit Redistricting The next round of draft maps will be available on Tuesday, Oct 17, with another community workshop scheduled that evening and a board vote on Wednesday, Oct 25. actransit.org/redistricting
AAPI Events CalendarSan Mateo County Asian American Pacific Islander Alliance Diwali Celebration Foster City Community Center, 1000 E Hillsdale Blvd on Friday, November 3 at 6:00pm. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/smcdiwali
Save the Date: The Fall Endorsing Convention is coming up! Registration and hotel reservations will open on September 12. We will have a Caucus Meeting during the convention, date and time TBD.
Thank you for attending our meeting in Visalia! Thank you to everyone who joined us at our Central Valley Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander panel discussion this weekend at the Visalia California Democratic Party conference! Special thanks to our panelists Uriah Kishon Ikaika Napaepae Blackwell, Leng Power, Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains, and Lilian Thaoxaochay, as well as our moderator and Central Valley Vice Chair, Riverbank Vice Mayor Rachel Hernandez.
AC Transit Redistricting The Alameda and Contra Costa Transit District is currently switching to fully districted elections. Maps and Comments on Communities of Interest can be submitted online or at public workshops. Please visit https://www.actransit.org/redistricting for details.
Upcoming AAPI Events AAPI Leadership Summit by Asm. Evan Low and the AAPI Legislative Caucus September 7 and 8, 2023, Sacramento, CA https://aapileadershipsummit.org/home Asian Democrats of Los Angeles County Inaugural Awards Gala Originally scheduled for Aug 20, this event was rescheduled due to the tropical storm. The new date is Friday, September 15th from 7-9PM at the San Gabriel Grapevine Arbor. Tickets and sponsorships are available at bit.ly/ADLACAwards and follow us on Instagram @asiandemsla for more updates!
Uriah Kishon Ikaika Napaepae Blackwell (he/him), Community EngagementCoordinator CVPIA
Uriah is 25 years old and identifies as Kanaka Maoli and Black. As the eldest of 9 siblings, qualities of being of service come natural to him. He began his organizing journey while attending UCLA from 2016 – 2020 with UCLA’s Pacific Islands’ Student Association (PISA) mobilizing around issues such as low Pacific Islander retention rates on and off campus, as well as the Mauna Kea Movement and much more. Uriah’s work with UCLA led to more opportunities with other organizations such as EPIC, APIFM and SOCAL PICRT, to name a few. He envisions our community as one who thrives here in the states, while also being connected to roots back home on our islands. Through CVPIA, he is able to work towards making that vision a reality everyday!
Leng Power (she/her), Community Builder
Leng Power is a first generation Cambodian American who grew up in the Central Valley Modesto Community where she is committed to causes related to poverty alleviation, strengthening the leadership fabric of the Valley, and building resilience among marginalized groups. Leng has served professionally as part of the Stanislaus County Behavioral Health department, Homeless and Housing Systems and currently serves as a Community Services Manager for an East Bay municipality. Leng is the past chair of the Salida Municipal Advisory Council, a Senior Fellow with the American Leadership Forum Great Valley Chapter and a 2020 Emerge CA alumni.
Dr. Jasmeet Bains (she/her), Assemblymember District 35
Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains was elected to the California State Assembly in November of 2022 to represent the 35th Assembly District. Assemblymember Bains worked as a family doctor providing primary healthcare to families throughout the Valley. Dr. Bains also serves as a volunteer with Global Family – an organization dedicated to combating human trafficking and child abuse, on the San Joaquin Valley Air District’s Environmental Justice Advisory group – working to improve our Valley’s air and water quality, and on the Taft College Foundation – fighting to expand access to higher education.
The daughter of immigrant parents from India, Dr. Bains grew up in the Central Valley. After graduating from medical school, Jasmeet returned home and completed her residency at Clinica Sierra Vista in Kern County, choosing to work in underserved healthcare settings to increase access to healthcare.
Lilian Thaoxaochay (she/her), Small Farms Community Educator
Lilian Thaoxaochay is a first-generation Hmong American born and raised in Fresno,
CA. Her family has farmed Asian specialty and vegetable crops in the Central Valley for three decades now. She completed her MA in Cultural Anthropology at UC Santa Cruz and has a BA in Medical Anthropology and Asian American Studies from Stanford University. Her previous work and research interests revolved around community racial/ethnic health disparities and policy, cultural competency in medical education, and Southeast Asian oral histories as political protest.
Lilian is currently a Small Farms Community Educator with the UCANR Cooperative Extension Office in Fresno County for the Small Farms and Specialty Crops Program where she provides technical assistance to Southeast Asian and other small scale and minority farmers for disaster relief; translation and education around soil health and water efficiency practices; and connects growers to resources on a variety of agricultural regulatory concerns.
Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus 