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List of Asian Americans and Pacific Islands Americans in the United States Congress

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Map of congressional districts represented by Asian Americans or Pacific Islander Americans in the 117th Congress.
  State had an Asian Senator at the beginning of the 117th Congress
  State has in the past had an Asian Senator

This is a list of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans in the U.S. Congress.

Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The term refers to a panethnic group that includes diverse populations with ancestral origins in East Asia, South Asia or Southeast Asia, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.[1]

Pacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, Pacific Islander Americans or Native Hawaiian and/or other Pacific Islander Americans, are Americans who have ethnic ancestry among the indigenous peoples of Oceania (viz. Polynesians, Melanesians and Micronesians). For its purposes, the U.S. Census also counts Indigenous Australians as part of this group.[2][3]

As of June 3, 2024, there are 18 representatives and 2 senators of Asian-American descent who are currently serving in Congress. In addition, there are three non-voting delegates of Pacific Islander descent who currently are also serving. Since 1900, 21 Pacific Islanders have been elected to the House of Representatives (18 of them as non-voting Resident Commissioners, Delegates or Resident Representatives) and one has been elected to the U.S. Senate. Hawaii was the first territory to send a Pacific Islander to the House of Representatives (in 1900) and was also the first state to send a Pacific Islander to the U.S. Senate (in 1990). Since 1957, 41 Asian Americans have been elected as U.S. Representatives and 9 as U.S. Senators. Hawaii was the first of four states to send an Asian American to the Senate (1959) and Illinois is the most recent state to elect a senator of similar descent for the first time (2016). With respect to the House of Representatives, California was the first of 13 states to elect an Asian American to the House (1956), and Oklahoma is the most recent to do so for the first time (2020). Three Asian-American women have been elected to the Senate (two of whom currently are incumbents and represent Hawaii and Illinois, respectively), and 13 have been elected to the House (nine of whom currently are incumbents) from seven separate states.

Out of the 20 current Asian-American members of Congress, 16 are Democrats (two senators and 14 representatives) and four are Republicans (four representatives).

Senate

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(Note: Senators are organized first in chronological order according to their first term in office, then second in alphabetical order according to their surname.)

Senator Asian and/or
Pacific Islander ethnicity 		Party State Tenure Notes
Term start Term end Length of service
Sen. Fong Hiram Fong
(1906–2004) 		Chinese[S 1] Republican Hawaii August 21, 1959 January 3, 1977 17 years, 135 days Retired
Sen. Inouye Daniel Inouye
(1924–2012) 		Japanese[S 2] Democratic Hawaii January 3, 1963 December 17, 2012 49 years, 349 days Died in office
Sen. Hayakawa S. I. Hayakawa
(1906–1992) 		Japanese Republican California January 2, 1977 January 3, 1983 6 years, 1 day Retired
Sen. Matsunaga Spark Matsunaga
(1916–1990) 		Japanese Democratic Hawaii January 3, 1977 April 15, 1990 13 years, 102 days Died in office
Sen. Akaka Daniel Akaka
(1924–2018) 		Hawaiian,
Chinese[S 3] 		Democratic Hawaii May 16, 1990 January 3, 2013 22 years, 232 days Initially appointed; later re-elected
Retired
Sen. Ensign John Ensign
(born 1958) 		Filipino[S 4] Republican Nevada January 3, 2001 May 3, 2011 10 years, 120 days Resigned
Sen. Hirono Mazie Hirono
(born 1947) 		Japanese[S 5] Democratic Hawaii January 3, 2013 Incumbent 11 years, 303 days
Sen. Duckworth Tammy Duckworth
(born 1968) 		Thai,
Chinese[S 6] 		Democratic Illinois January 3, 2017 Incumbent 7 years, 303 days
Sen. Harris Kamala Harris
(born 1964) 		Indian[S 7] Democratic California January 3, 2017 January 18, 2021 4 years, 15 days Resigned to become Vice President

Notes

  1. ^ First American of Chinese ancestry elected to Congress
  2. ^ First Japanese American elected to the Senate
  3. ^ First Native Hawaiian to serve in the Senate
  4. ^ First person of Filipino ancestry elected to the Senate
  5. ^ First Asian-American woman elected to the Senate
  6. ^ First Thai American elected to the Senate
  7. ^ First person of South Asian ancestry elected to the Senate; together with Pramila Jayapal, first Indian-American woman elected to Congress

House of Representatives

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(Note: Representatives are organized first in chronological order according to their first term in office, then second in alphabetical order according to their surname.)

Representative Asian and/or
Pacific Islander ethnicity 		Party State Tenure Notes
Term start Term end Length of service
Rep. Saund Dalip Singh Saund
(1899–1973) 		Indian[H 1] Democratic California January 3, 1957 January 3, 1963 6 years, 0 days Lost reelection
Rep. Inouye Daniel Inouye
(1924–2012) 		Japanese[H 2] Democratic Hawaii August 21, 1959 January 3, 1963 3 years, 135 days Retired to run successfully for U.S. Senate
Rep. Matsunaga Spark Matsunaga
(1916–1990) 		Japanese Democratic Hawaii January 3, 1963 January 3, 1977 14 years, 0 days Retired to run successfully for U.S. Senate
Rep. Mink Patsy Mink
(1927–2002) 		Japanese[H 3] Democratic Hawaii January 3, 1965 January 3, 1977 12 years, 0 days Retired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate
September 22, 1990 September 28, 2002 12 years, 6 days Died in office
Rep. Mineta Norman Mineta
(1931–2022) 		Japanese Democratic California January 3, 1975 October 10, 1995 20 years, 280 days Resigned
Later served as Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Transportation
Rep. Akaka Daniel Akaka
(1924–2018) 		Hawaiian,
Chinese[H 4] 		Democratic Hawaii January 3, 1977 May 16, 1990 13 years, 133 days Resigned after being appointed to the U.S. Senate
Rep. Matsui Bob Matsui
(1941–2005) 		Japanese Democratic California January 3, 1979 January 1, 2005 25 years, 364 days Died in office
Rep. Dymally Mervyn Dymally
(1926–2012) 		Indian[H 5] Democratic California January 3, 1981 January 3, 1993 12 years, 0 days Retired
Rep. Saiki Pat Saiki
(born 1930) 		Japanese Republican Hawaii January 3, 1987 January 3, 1991 4 years, 0 days Retired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate
Rep. Kim Jay Kim
(born 1939) 		Korean[H 6] Republican California January 3, 1993 January 3, 1999 6 years, 0 days Lost renomination
Rep. Scott Bobby Scott
(born 1947) 		Filipino[H 7] Democratic Virginia January 3, 1993 Incumbent 31 years, 303 days
Rep. Ensign John Ensign
(born 1958) 		Filipino Republican Nevada January 3, 1995 January 3, 1999 4 years, 0 days Retired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate
Later elected to the U.S. Senate from Nevada
Rep. Wu David Wu
(born 1955) 		Taiwanese[H 8] Democratic Oregon January 3, 1999 August 3, 2011 12 years, 212 days Resigned
Rep. Honda Mike Honda
(born 1941) 		Japanese Democratic California January 3, 2001 January 3, 2017 16 years, 0 days Lost reelection
Rep. Jindal Bobby Jindal
(born 1971) 		Indian Republican Louisiana January 3, 2005 January 14, 2008 3 years, 11 days Resigned to run successfully for Governor
Rep. Matsui Doris Matsui
(born 1944) 		Japanese Democratic California March 8, 2005 Incumbent 19 years, 238 days Elected to succeed late husband
Rep. Hirono Mazie Hirono
(born 1947) 		Japanese Democratic Hawaii January 3, 2007 January 3, 2013 6 years, 0 days Retired to run successfully for U.S. Senate
Rep. Austria Steve Austria
(born 1958) 		Filipino Republican Ohio January 3, 2009 January 3, 2013 4 years, 0 days Retired following decennial redistricting
Rep. Cao Joseph Cao
(born 1967) 		Vietnamese[H 9] Republican Louisiana January 3, 2009 January 3, 2011 2 years, 0 days Lost reelection
Rep. Chu Judy Chu
(born 1953) 		Chinese[H 10] Democratic California July 14, 2009 Incumbent 15 years, 110 days
Rep. Djou Charles Djou
(born 1970) 		Thai,
Chinese[H 11] 		Republican[H 12] Hawaii May 22, 2010 January 3, 2011 226 days Lost reelection
Rep. Clarke Hansen Clarke
(born 1957) 		Bangladeshi[H 13] Democratic Michigan January 3, 2011 January 3, 2013 2 years, 0 days Lost renomination following decennial redistricting
Rep. Hanabusa Colleen Hanabusa
(born 1951) 		Japanese Democratic Hawaii January 3, 2011 January 3, 2015 4 years, 0 days Retired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate
November 14, 2016 January 3, 2019 2 years, 50 days Retired to run unsuccessfully for Governor
Rep. Bera Ami Bera
(born 1965) 		Indian Democratic California January 3, 2013 Incumbent 11 years, 303 days
Rep. Duckworth Tammy Duckworth
(born 1968) 		Thai,
Chinese[H 14] 		Democratic Illinois January 3, 2013 January 3, 2017 4 years, 0 days Retired to run successfully for U.S. Senate
Rep. Gabbard Tulsi Gabbard
(born 1981) 		Samoan[H 15] Democratic[H 16] Hawaii January 3, 2013 January 3, 2021 8 years, 0 days Retired after having run unsuccessfully for President
Rep. Meng Grace Meng
(born 1975) 		Taiwanese[H 17] Democratic New York January 3, 2013 Incumbent 11 years, 303 days
Rep. Takano Mark Takano
(born 1960) 		Japanese[H 18] Democratic California January 3, 2013 Incumbent 11 years, 303 days
Rep. Lieu Ted Lieu
(born 1969) 		Taiwanese Democratic California January 3, 2015 Incumbent 9 years, 303 days
Rep. Takai Mark Takai
(1967–2016) 		Japanese Democratic Hawaii January 3, 2015 July 20, 2016 1 year, 199 days Died in office
Rep. Jayapal Pramila Jayapal
(born 1965) 		Indian[H 19] Democratic Washington January 3, 2017 Incumbent 7 years, 303 days
Rep. Khanna Ro Khanna
(born 1976) 		Indian Democratic California January 3, 2017 Incumbent 7 years, 303 days
Rep. Krishnamoorthi Raja Krishnamoorthi
(born 1973) 		Indian Democratic Illinois January 3, 2017 Incumbent 7 years, 303 days
Rep. Murphy Stephanie Murphy
(born 1978) 		Vietnamese[H 20] Democratic Florida January 3, 2017 January 3, 2023 6 years, 0 days Retired
TJ Cox
(born 1963) 		Filipino,
Chinese 		Democratic California January 3, 2019 January 3, 2021 2 years, 0 days Lost reelection
Andy Kim
(born 1982) 		Korean Democratic New Jersey January 3, 2019 Incumbent 5 years, 303 days
Stephanie Bice
(born 1973) 		Pakistani[H 21] Republican Oklahoma January 3, 2021 Incumbent 3 years, 303 days
Kai Kahele
(born 1974) 		Hawaiian Democratic Hawaii January 3, 2021 January 3, 2023 2 years, 0 days Retired to run unsuccessfully for Governor
Young Kim
(born 1962) 		Korean[H 22] Republican California January 3, 2021 Incumbent 3 years, 303 days
Michelle Steel
(born 1955) 		Korean[H 22] Republican California January 3, 2021 Incumbent 3 years, 303 days
Marilyn Strickland
(born 1962) 		Korean[H 22] Democratic Washington January 3, 2021 Incumbent 3 years, 303 days
Shri Thanedar
(born 1955) 		Indian Democratic Michigan January 3, 2023 Incumbent 1 year, 303 days
Jill Tokuda
(born 1976) 		Japanese Democratic Hawaii January 3, 2023 Incumbent 1 year, 303 days
Vince Fong
(born 1979) 		Chinese Republican California June 3, 2024 Incumbent 151 days

Notes

  1. ^ First AAPI person elected to Congress as a non-delegate, and also first Indian American elected to Congress
  2. ^ First Japanese American elected to Congress
  3. ^ First Asian-American woman elected to Congress
  4. ^ First Native Hawaiian to serve as a voting member of Congress
  5. ^ First Dougla elected to Congress
  6. ^ First Korean American elected to Congress
  7. ^ First American-born Filipino elected to Congress
  8. ^ First Taiwanese American elected to Congress
  9. ^ First Vietnamese American elected to Congress
  10. ^ First Chinese-American woman elected to Congress
  11. ^ First Thai American elected to Congress
  12. ^ Became an independent in 2018
  13. ^ First person of Bangladeshi ancestry elected to Congress
  14. ^ First Thai-American woman elected to Congress
  15. ^ First woman of Pacific Islander ancestry elected to Congress
  16. ^ Became an independent in 2022
  17. ^ First Taiwanese-American woman elected to Congress
  18. ^ First openly gay person of AAPI ancestry elected to Congress
  19. ^ Together with Kamala Harris, first Indian-American woman elected to Congress
  20. ^ First Vietnamese-American woman elected to Congress
  21. ^ First person of Pakistani ancestry elected to Congress
  22. ^ a b c Reps. Kim, Steel, and Strickland are collectively the first Korean-American women elected to Congress

House delegates (non-voting members)

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Resident Commissioners were House delegates from the Philippines, then an American territory.[4][5][6] Two were elected at-large by the Philippine Legislature from 1907 to 1935, and, following the establishment of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, a single Resident Commissioner was appointed by the President of the Philippines (with the consent of the Commonwealth's Commission on Appointments) from 1936 to 1946.

From 1978 to 2009, the Northern Mariana Islands elected four Resident Representatives who had no privileges in the House. American Samoa similarly elected three Delegates at-large from 1971 to 1981 and Guam elected one Washington Representative from 1965 to 1973.

(Note: Delegates are organized first in chronological order according to their first term in office, then second in alphabetical order according to their surname.)

Delegate Asian and/or
Pacific Islander ethnicity 		Party Territory Tenure Notes
Term start Term end Length of service
Del. Wilcox Robert Wilcox
(1855–1903) 		Hawaiian Home Rule Hawaii November 6, 1900 March 4, 1903 2 years, 118 days Lost reelection
Del. Kalanianaʻole Jonah Kalanianaʻole
(1871–1922) 		Hawaiian Republican Hawaii March 4, 1903 January 7, 1922 18 years, 309 days Died in office
Res. Comm. Legarda Benito Legarda
(1853–1915) 		Filipino Federalist Philippine Islands November 22, 1907 March 4, 1912 4 years, 103 days Retired
Res. Comm. Ocampo Pablo Ocampo
(1853–1925) 		Filipino Democrat Philippine Islands November 22, 1907 November 22, 1909 2 years, 0 days Retired
Res. Comm. Quezón Manuel L. Quezón
(1878–1944) 		Filipino Nacionalista Philippine Islands November 23, 1909 October 15, 1916 6 years, 327 days Retired
Later served as President of the Philippines
Res. Comm. Earnshaw Manuel Earnshaw
(1862–1936) 		Filipino Independent Philippine Islands March 4, 1913 March 4, 1917 4 years, 0 days Retired
Res. Comm. de Veyra Jaime C. de Veyra
(1873–1963) 		Filipino Nacionalista Philippine Islands March 4, 1917 March 4, 1923 6 years, 0 days Retired
Res. Comm. Yangco Teodoro R. Yangco
(1861–1939) 		Filipino,
Chinese 		Independent Philippine Islands March 4, 1917 March 4, 1920 3 years, 0 days Retired
Res. Comm. Gabaldón Isauro Gabaldon
(1875–1942) 		Filipino Nacionalista Philippine Islands March 4, 1920 July 16, 1928 8 years, 124 days Resigned
Res. Comm. Guevara Pedro Guevara
(1879–1938) 		Filipino Nacionalista Philippine Islands March 4, 1923 February 14, 1936 12 years, 347 days Retired
Del. Jarrett William Jarrett
(1877–1929) 		Hawaiian Democrat Hawaii March 4, 1923 March 4, 1927 4 years, 0 days Lost reelection
Del. Houston Victor Houston
(1876–1959) 		Hawaiian Republican Hawaii March 4, 1927 March 4, 1933 6 years, 0 days Lost reelection
Res. Comm. Osías Camilo Osías
(1889–1976) 		Filipino Nacionalista Philippine Islands March 4, 1929 January 3, 1935 5 years, 305 days Retired
Res. Comm. Delgado Francisco Afan Delgado
(1886–1964) 		Filipino Nacionalista Philippine Islands January 3, 1935 February 14, 1936 1 year, 42 days Retired
Del. King Samuel King
(1886–1959) 		Hawaiian Republican Hawaii January 3, 1935 January 3, 1943 8 years, 0 days Resigned
Res. Comm. Paredes Quintín Paredes
(1884–1973) 		Filipino Nacionalista Philippines February 14, 1936 September 29, 1938 2 years, 228 days Resigned
Res. Comm. Romulo Carlos P. Romulo
(1899–1985) 		Filipino Liberal Philippines August 10, 1944 July 4, 1946 1 year, 328 days Office eliminated following the independence of the Philippines
Del. Won Pat Antonio Won Pat
(1908–1987) 		Chamorro,
Chinese[D 1] 		Democratic Guam January 3, 1973 January 3, 1985 12 years, 0 days Lost reelection
Res. Rep. Pangelinan Eddie Pangelinan
(born 1945) 		Chamorro Democratic
(1978–1983) 		Northern Mariana Islands January 9, 1978 January 9, 1984 5 years, 130 days Lost reelection
Republican
(1983–1984)
Del. Sunia Fofó Sunia
(born 1937) 		Samoan[D 2] Democratic American Samoa January 3, 1981 September 6, 1988 7 years, 247 days Resigned
Res. Rep. Tenorio Froilan Tenorio
(1939–2020) 		Chamorro Democratic Northern Mariana Islands January 9, 1984 January 8, 1990 5 years, 364 days Retired to run unsuccessfully for Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
Later successfully ran for Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
Del. Blaz Ben Blaz
(1928–2014) 		Chamorro Republican Guam January 3, 1985 January 3, 1993 8 years, 0 days Lost reelection
Del. Faleomavaega Eni Faleomavaega
(1943–2017) 		Samoan Democratic American Samoa January 3, 1989 January 3, 2015 26 years, 0 days Lost reelection
Res. Rep. Babauta Juan Babauta
(born 1953) 		Chamorro,
Carolinian[D 3] 		Republican Northern Mariana Islands January 8, 1990 January 14, 2002 12 years, 6 days Retired to run successfully for Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
Del. Underwood Robert Underwood
(born 1948) 		Chamorro Democratic Guam January 3, 1993 January 3, 2003 10 years, 0 days Retired to run unsuccessfully for Governor of Guam
Res. Rep. Tenorio Pete Tenorio
(born 1941) 		Chamorro Republican Northern Mariana Islands January 14, 2002 January 3, 2009 6 years, 355 days Office replaced by Delegate
Lost election to new office
Del. San Nicolas Michael San Nicolas
(born 1981) 		Chamorro Democratic Guam January 3, 2019 January 3, 2023 4 years, 0 days Retired to run unsuccessfully for Governor of Guam
Del. Sablan Gregorio Sablan
(born 1955) 		Chamorro Independent
(2009) 		Northern Mariana Islands January 3, 2009 Incumbent 15 years, 303 days
Democratic
(2009–2014)
Independent
(2014–2021)
Democratic
(2021–present)
Del. Radewagen Amata Radewagen
(born 1947) 		Samoan,
Hawaiian 		Republican American Samoa January 3, 2015 Incumbent 9 years, 303 days
James Moylan
(born 1962) 		Chamorro Republican Guam January 3, 2023 Incumbent 1 year, 303 days

Notes

  1. ^ First Chamorro person elected to Congress
  2. ^ First Samoan delegate elected to Congress
  3. ^ First (and so far only) Carolinian person elected to Congress

See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ Karen R. Humes; Nicholas A. Jones; Roberto R. Ramirez (March 2011). "Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin: 2010" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. U.S. Department of Commerce. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
  2. ^ University of Virginia. Geospatial and Statistical Data Center. "1990 PUMS Ancestry Codes." 2003. August 30, 2007."1990 Census of Population and Housing Public Use Microdata Sample". Archived from the original on August 25, 2007. Retrieved August 31, 2007.
  3. ^ "Government Information". www.lib.umich.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  4. ^ "Map Layer Info". National Atlas of the United States. United States Department of the Interior. July 23, 2012. Archived from the original on January 4, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2012. The Philippines became a territory of the United States after the Spanish–American War.
  5. ^ Berhow, Mark (2012). American Defenses of Corregidor and Manila Bay 1898–1945. Osprey Publishing. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-78200-435-6. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  6. ^ Pyong Gap, Min, ed. (2005). Asian Americans: Contemporary Trends and Issues. Pine Forge Press. p. 183. ISBN 978-1-4129-0556-5. Retrieved 10 December 2012.

Further reading

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