On Nov. 9, Vivek Murthy was named one of the three co-chairs of the COVID-19 Advisory Board that will guide President-elect Joe Biden on dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. Murthy, 43, served as the 19th U.S. Surgeon General in the Obama administration. An Indian American, Murthy received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University. He completed […]

California has elected its youngest state lawmaker in more than eight decades, elevating a 25-year-old progressive Democrat who already has years of legislative experience to the state Assembly. Alex Lee survived a crowded nine-candidate primary election in March, then trounced his Republican rival by winning 73% of the vote in a San Francisco Bay Area […]

Two Indian Americans were elected to the New York state Assembly on Nov. 3—making them the first South Asians voted into the lower house of the state Legislature. Both Democrats from Queens, Jenifer Rajkumar won 66% of the votes and Zohran Mamdani won 72%. Rajkumar is a lawyer and immigrant rights advocate, and Mamdani is […]

Restaurateur and activist Francesca Hong has won the 76th Assembly District—to become the first Asian American to serve in the Wisconsin State Legislature. Hong defeated Republican candidate Patrick Hull, 88% to 12%, to win the Assembly seat that was previously held by former state Rep. Chris Taylor. The daughter of Chinese immigrants, Hong is a […]

Vincent Okamoto—a Vietnam war hero and decorated Vietnam War veteran who became a judge at the Los Angeles Superior Court—died in late September. He was 76 years old. Born in a relocation camp during World War II, Okamoto grew up to fight for his country. During his service, Okamoto was wounded twice and made 22 […]