Episode 132 – Bumoto Kami: Filipino American Electoral Politics (Social Distance Series)

This Filipino American Life

Election season in the US has come and not quite gone, and regardless of who you voted for (and how you feel about the results), a noteworthy aspect of this year’s Elections were the sheer number of Filipino Americans running for office throughout the country. From Hawaii to Virginia, California to Georgia, and even Utah and Texas, there were a number of Filipino American candidates running for local and national offices this year.

In fact, Filipino Americans have held public offices in the US as far back as the 1950s. And even amongst the TFAL crew, many of us have worked on electoral campaigns and worked for elected officials.

But what are the implications and the opportunities for Filipino Americans in seeking and winning these public leadership roles? What roles can and should the Filipino American community play in both driving these campaigns and holding these leaders accountable? How does community organizing in general fit into the picture? And how have the political divides that exist in this country manifested in our own communities and families?

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Have thoughts about the election and the role of Filipino Americans in public office? Leave us a voicemail at (805) 394-TFAL