December 15, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC – A historic number of Filipino Americans were elected to local and state-level positions during the recent November elections.
“Our biggest achievement for this year’s November elections is seeing more Filipinos stepping up to run for public office. Representation matters! We are excited to see progress for our community,” NaFFAA President and National Chair Brendan Flores said in a press statement. NaFFAA released a list of victors, which is continuously being updated.
Rep. Bobby Scott remained the highest-ranking Filipino American elected official after winning the U.S. House election in Virginia’s 3rd Congressional District. He has served this district since 1993.
Historical state election victories for Fil-Ams
In California, Rob Bonta was re-elected as the Attorney General for the state that is home to more than 500,000 Filipinos.
Victors in state legislature elections on the East Coast:
Steven Raga, first Filipino American in the New York state legislature; Maria Cervania, first Filipina American in the North Carolina legislature; Kris Valderrama, re-elected Maryland House of Delegates member; Marvin Lim, state representative in District 98 in Georgia; Justin Jones, state representative for District 52 in Tennessee; Luz Bay, New Hampshire House of Representatives for Strafford County District 21.
Filipino American winners for state legislatures on the West Coast :
Genevieve Mina, in the Alaska House of Representatives; Erica Mosca, in the Nevada legislature; Rosebella Martinez, Hawaii State House of Representatives; Brandon Elefante and Henry Aquino, two newly elected senators in the Hawaii State Senate.
Filipino American trailblazers in local elections
A record number of Filipino Americans won local government positions in California:
Elected Mayors were Jed Leano of Claremont City; Rod Daus-Magbual of Daly City; Melissa Ramoso of the City of Artesia. The three mayors were elected council members but will assume the role of mayors in 2023.
Filipino Americans are also well-represented in California city council and municipal positions:
Gabriel Quinto, re-elected first LGBTQ council member in the history of the city of El Cerrito; Garry Garbadillo of Milpitas City, Ray Buenaventura of Daly City; Ollie Cantos and Letty Lopez-Viado of West Covina City; Tony Daysog of Alameda County; Joanne Del Rosario of the City of Colma; Diosdado Matulac of the City of Vallejo; Buenaflor Nicolas of City of South San Francisco; David Oro of American Canyon; Charles Palmares of the City of Vallejo; Cameron Sasai of the City of Pinole; Phil Bacerra of Santa Ana City; Ditas Yamane of National City; Krystle Ang of Burbank City was elected treasurer; and Kenneth Mejia of Los Angeles was elected as the city’s first Filipino American city controller.
In Hawaii, newcomer Tyler Dos Santos and former member of the State House Val Okimoto were both elected to the Honolulu City Council.
Several Filipino Americans also won school board elections in California:
Thelma Boac and Jaria Jaug won at Berryessa Union School District Board in San Jose; Judy Patacsil, Board Trustee for District 1 of Palomar College in San Diego County; Mike Guingona and Agnes Gonzales, San Mateo County Community College District Board and Rowland Unified School District, respectively; Robert Moreno, Southwestern Community College District Board of Trustees at South San Diego County.
On the judicial level, Filipina American attorney Mari Parlade won as a District Family Court Judge in Las Vegas, Nevada.