On Asian representation at the DNC

August 22, 2024

Publication: Politico

By: Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman

Rep. Grace Meng has been one of the few Asian American speakers at the DNC. | Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

NEW YORK MINUTE: The Democratic National Convention wraps today in Chicago, and Kamala Harris will ceremonially accept the party’s nomination for president.

MENG’S MOMENT: When Rep. Grace Meng was bumped from the DNC’s speakers lineup on Monday because the night’s programming was running too long, politicos of Asian descent took notice.

New York state Sen. John Liu told Playbook the postponement was “infuriatingly offensive and a disturbing sign that leadership continues to take for granted the fastest-growing electorate nationally and in key battleground states.”

Here, after all, was the first and only Asian American member of Congress in New York and a Democratic stalwart whose work for the party has included helping to harness AAPI votes to get Rep. Tom Suozzi elected last February.

And the convention is meant to celebrate Harris, who would be the first woman president of South Asian descent if elected.

On Wednesday, Meng got her speaking slot back.

Her remarks were brief — only about a minute long — but she was cheered by those who see themselves reflected in her.

“He will not stop at banning abortion,” Meng warned of former President Donald Trump. “He’ll let states track pregnancies. He’ll put birth control and fertility treatment at risk.”

(Trump has said he opposes a nationwide ban on abortion.)

Asian Americans have been unrepresented from the main stage, elected leaders and strategists with the crucial voting bloc told Playbook.

Democratic strategist Trip Yang highlighted that Nevada, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Michigan have Asian American electorates crucial to the margin of victory in the presidential race, saying, “It’s a huge, huge missed opportunity and unforced error if you’re not having more Asian and AAPI leaders on stage speaking.”

The speakers of Asian descent have been few.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), the second Asian American woman to serve in the Senate, spoke on Tuesday.

In addition to Meng, Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) spoke on Wednesday.

And Harris, whose mother emigrated from India and whose father emigrated from Jamaica, is set to speak tonight.

Many, many more should be in the spotlight, said Democratic consultant Amit Singh Bagga.

“Democrats only need to look to the one person who’s revived our party’s corpse to understand why Asian Americans matter,” he said, “because in addition to being a Black job, being president is a South Asian one, too.” — Emily Ngo

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