With California’s gubernatorial primary election just two months away, candidates are visiting Los Angeles’ Koreatown, prompting calls for the Korean American community to more actively voice its policy priorities.
The campaign activity begins on April 9 with a gubernatorial candidate press conference hosted by the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles (KAFLA). The event will take place at 11:15 a.m. at the KAFLA building and will feature Democratic candidate Tom Steyer, who is currently polling third among Democratic contenders.
Steyer, a billionaire investor, founded the hedge fund Farallon Capital in 1986, which now manages approximately $42 billion in assets. After leaving the firm in 2012, he launched NextGen America, a climate-focused nonprofit and political action group supporting environmental initiatives and Democratic candidates.
The Korean American Federation plans to host two to three additional candidate press conferences in the coming weeks.
Robert Ahn, president of KAFLA, emphasized the significance of these visits in an interview with The Korea Daily on April 7, stating that engagement from gubernatorial candidates reflects the growing political importance of the Korean American community. He added that the long-term goal is to make Koreatown a “must-stop” destination not only for gubernatorial candidates, but also for congressional and presidential hopefuls.
Ahn also stressed the need for the community to clearly communicate its policy demands during candidate visits, saying such engagement can help ensure elected officials remain accountable to Korean American voters.
In addition, on April 18, a coalition of more than 40 Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) organizations will host a gubernatorial candidate forum in Koreatown. The event is co-organized by the Korean American Democratic Committee and Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment (CAUSE), and will take place from 10 a.m. to noon at World Mission University.
The forum is designed to provide voters with a direct look at candidates’ policy visions and their commitments to AAPI communities. Confirmed participants include Steyer, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and California State Controller Betty Yee. Organizers said invitations have been extended to all declared candidates, with additional attendees to be announced.
Pre-registration for the forum is available online.
Meanwhile, a recent poll by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) shows Republican candidates leading the race, with political commentator Steve Hilton polling at 39% and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco at 32%.
Among Democratic contenders, former Rep. Katie Porter holds 19%, followed by Rep. Eric Swalwell at 18%, and Steyer at 14%, indicating a tightening race as the primary approaches.
