Of those, a record 21 contenders — 18 Democrats and three Republicans — claimed victories in their primaries and are now vying to represent districts across the nation.
The candidates running are a mosaic that includes both first and second generation Asian-Americans. Many have roots to India and Japan, and most, but not all, are Democrats.
A Seat At The Table
The dramatic jump in candidates brands this election year as a potential milestone for Asian-Americans in politics, says California Democrat Judy Chu, who in 2009 became the first Chinese woman elected to Congress.
"Asian Americans are finally seeing that it can be done," she says. "We are finally bearing fruit."
Candidates are building upon legacies of pioneers like Congressman Daniel K. Inouye, the most senior member of the U.S. Senate, and the labors of newer figures like Joseph Cao from Louisiana, the first Vietnamese-American to serve in Congress.
