Asian Americans Win Elections to Lead Two Large Cities
2021-11-04
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1"Because if we truly want to deliver change, we need every one of us shaping our future.
2Thank you for placing your trust in me to serve as the next mayor of Boston."
3That is Michelle Wu, a 36-year-old Taiwanese American, who will be Boston's next mayor.
4She is the northeastern city's first woman and first Asian American leader.
5Wu was the city's first Asian American city council member.
6She defeated Annissa Essaibi George, who is Arab and Polish.
7In the southern Ohio city of Cincinnati, Aftab Pureval, whose parents are Tibetan and Indian, will be the new leader.
8He said some Democratic Party leaders did not think he would be able to win the mayoral election because his name would not look good on election materials for voters in a mostly white part of Ohio.
9"When you're Asian, when you have an ethnic name, it's just harder. You've got to be creative, you've got to work harder, you've got to knock on more doors," he told the Associated Press.
10Celebrating his victory over a former United States law maker on Tuesday night, Pureval told his supporters: "Tonight, we made history. ... Cincinnati is a place where no matter what you look like, where you're from, or how much money you have, if you come here and work hard you can achieve your dreams."
11The Asian American victories are notable in the U.S.
12In the last two years, there has been an increase in crimes against Asian Americans.
13In Seattle, Washington, the mayoral race is not yet decided.
14Bruce Harrell has a small lead over Lorena Gonzalez.
15Harrell is Japanese American and Black.
16The Associated Press notes that in the past, Asian American political candidates have been successful in places with large Asian populations such as Hawaii and California.
17But success in cities like Boston and Cincinnati shows that Asian American voters are spread throughout the U.S. and feeling "empowered" to have a voice in politics.
18Pureval said his win in an Ohio city without many Asian Americans shows people of Asian ancestry "can run and win anywhere."
19In Dearborn, Michigan, a city close to Detroit, Abdullah Hammoud became the first Arab American mayor.
20Dearborn has about 100,000 residents and one of the largest Arab American populations in the U.S.
21Varun Nikore is president of the Asian American Pacific Islander Victory Fund, an organization that raises money for political candidates.
22He called the wins in Boston and Cincinnati "a new day in America at the local level."
23He said Asian American leaders in big cities can cause a "ripple effect that lasts - in some cases - decades."
24James Lai is a professor at Santa Clara University in California.
25He studies Asian Americans and their work in city politics.
26Lai said the mayoral victories are a good example of how Asian Americans are gaining in U.S. politics.
27Beyond city leaders, he said, Asian Americans are winning jobs in smaller cities and towns.
28Nikore said the victories will push aside the idea that Asian Americans do not belong in the U.S.
29During the campaign, Pureval used humor to make voters more comfortable about his differences.
30He called himself "a brown dude with a funny name."
31If more Asian Americans become political leaders, he said, he hopes future candidates "won't have to think through that."
32I'm Dan Friedell.
1"Because if we truly want to deliver change, we need every one of us shaping our future. Thank you for placing your trust in me to serve as the next mayor of Boston." 2That is Michelle Wu, a 36-year-old Taiwanese American, who will be Boston's next mayor. She is the northeastern city's first woman and first Asian American leader. 3Wu was the city's first Asian American city council member. She defeated Annissa Essaibi George, who is Arab and Polish. 4In the southern Ohio city of Cincinnati, Aftab Pureval, whose parents are Tibetan and Indian, will be the new leader. 5He said some Democratic Party leaders did not think he would be able to win the mayoral election because his name would not look good on election materials for voters in a mostly white part of Ohio. 6"When you're Asian, when you have an ethnic name, it's just harder. You've got to be creative, you've got to work harder, you've got to knock on more doors," he told the Associated Press. 7Celebrating his victory over a former United States law maker on Tuesday night, Pureval told his supporters: "Tonight, we made history. ... Cincinnati is a place where no matter what you look like, where you're from, or how much money you have, if you come here and work hard you can achieve your dreams." 8The Asian American victories are notable in the U.S. In the last two years, there has been an increase in crimes against Asian Americans. 9In Seattle, Washington, the mayoral race is not yet decided. Bruce Harrell has a small lead over Lorena Gonzalez. Harrell is Japanese American and Black. 10The Associated Press notes that in the past, Asian American political candidates have been successful in places with large Asian populations such as Hawaii and California. But success in cities like Boston and Cincinnati shows that Asian American voters are spread throughout the U.S. and feeling "empowered" to have a voice in politics. 11Pureval said his win in an Ohio city without many Asian Americans shows people of Asian ancestry "can run and win anywhere." 12In Dearborn, Michigan, a city close to Detroit, Abdullah Hammoud became the first Arab American mayor. Dearborn has about 100,000 residents and one of the largest Arab American populations in the U.S. 13Varun Nikore is president of the Asian American Pacific Islander Victory Fund, an organization that raises money for political candidates. He called the wins in Boston and Cincinnati "a new day in America at the local level." 14He said Asian American leaders in big cities can cause a "ripple effect that lasts - in some cases - decades." 15James Lai is a professor at Santa Clara University in California. He studies Asian Americans and their work in city politics. 16Lai said the mayoral victories are a good example of how Asian Americans are gaining in U.S. politics. Beyond city leaders, he said, Asian Americans are winning jobs in smaller cities and towns. 17Nikore said the victories will push aside the idea that Asian Americans do not belong in the U.S. 18During the campaign, Pureval used humor to make voters more comfortable about his differences. He called himself "a brown dude with a funny name." 19If more Asian Americans become political leaders, he said, he hopes future candidates "won't have to think through that." 20I'm Dan Friedell. 21Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by Terry Tang of The Associated Press. Susan Shand was the editor. 22How do you think the new Asian American leaders will make a difference in their cities? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. 23____________________________________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25creative - adj. using the ability to make or think of new things : involving the process by which new ideas, stories, etc., are created 26knock - v. to hit something (such as a door) with the knuckles of your hand or with a hard object (such as a knocker) in order to get people's attention 27achieve - v. to get or reach (something) by working hard 28empower - v. to give power to (someone) 29ripple effect - n. a situation in which one event causes a series of other events to happen 30decade - n. a period of 10 years 31dude - n. a man - used especially by young people