In a groundbreaking move, Korean-American candidates for next year’s qualifying elections in Los Angeles City districts have announced a joint campaign.
Facing a tight race in the upcoming March primaries, these candidates are uniting to form the so-called ‘Korean Dream Team.’ While Latinx candidates have gone beyond mutual support to campaign together in the past, this is virtually the first time Korean-American candidates have rallied together.
David Kim (34th Congressional District), Grace Yoo (LA City Council District 10), John Yi (54th Assembly District), and Ed Han (44th Assembly District) are collaborating on this joint campaign and will announce it to voters as early as next week at a press conference organized by Korean American Democratic Committee (KADC) President Kenneth Ahn.
These candidates, all in their 30s and 40s, are challenging incumbents or well-known figures in their respective races. Kim is running for the third time against a three-term incumbent, while Yoo is also running for the third time against an appointed council member. Both Yi and Han are up-and-comers who are facing tough campaigns against established politicians. The candidates are also progressive, and criticizing the status quo is a big common denominator in their campaigns.
“This will significantly encourage minorities, Asians, and Korean Americans to participate in the voting process,” Kim said, “and it’s going to give us a chance to better communicate the widespread frustration and disappointment with establishment politics.”
Ed Han, a candidate for the 44th Congressional District, which borders the northern border of Kim’s 34th Congressional District, said, “I fully embrace this initiative to bring forth an agenda of change and innovation, while simultaneously highlighting Korean-American youth activism.” “There’s a lot more going on in the camp itself, but I see it as a great opportunity to learn more,” he said.
These Korean-American candidates, sharing overlapping constituencies and voter demographics, are poised to benefit from synergistic effects.
The 34th Congressional District, the City Council’s 10th District, and the 54th Assembly District not only share close proximity but also have overlapping areas. Predominantly Latino, these districts also have a substantial immigrant population, including Korean Americans and Chinese, comprising nearly half of the residents.
“Given that this is essentially a race among minority candidates, our collaboration should significantly bolster the visibility of Korean-American candidates,” Yoo said, “but it could also pose a challenge to incumbents and more established candidates.”
The four candidates are hoping to see some positive effects in terms of fundraising for their campaigns as well. Anticipating the release of their fourth-quarter fundraising figures early next month, each candidate acknowledges the challenges in securing additional campaign funds. Except for Yoo, other candidates Kim, Yi, and Han have yet to outraise their rivals.
“Our collective voice as four candidates would greatly aid in raising awareness and garnering support,” said Yi. “I hope the Korean-American community will take this opportunity to support us.”
BY BRIAN CHOI, HOONSIK WOO [ichoi@koreadaily.com]
