MD-03 Congressional Candidates Seek Support from Chinese American Parents

On a Friday night in late April, Centennial High School's cafeteria transformed into a unique scene: speed dating. But it was not your typical singles event searching for love. Instead, it was a gathering of Congressional candidates and parents from the Chinese American community.

With Maryland’s primary election just around the corner, the Chinese American Parent Association of Howard County(CAPA-HC) organized its first Congressional Candidates Forum since its establishment in 2015. Ten candidates vying for Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District took part in the forum. Parents from around 50 families attended the forum, with some bringing their children along to interact with the prospective federal legislators and discuss issues affecting their community.

The competition for Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District is heating up due to an opening. The incumbent, Rep. John Sarbanes(D-MD), will retire after 18 years in Congress. Currently, 31 candidates have thrown their hats into the ring for this open seat, with 22 Democrats and 9 Republicans vying for the position.

Both parties understand the importance of garnering support from the district’s Asian American community, which ranks as the third-largest ethnic group and constitutes 1.5 times the statewide average in Maryland.

Historically, the Asian American community has shown less political involvement. Many first-generation immigrants have never participated in primary elections and lack proper knowledge of the voting process. Therefore, the forum began with the host providing essential information to the audience about voter registration and the voting procedure.

Jean Xu, one of the founders of CAPA-HC, said that education holds paramount importance for many Asian American families, often to the exclusion of almost everything else. While CAPA-HC primarily serves as a parents' association, they aspire to foster greater civic engagement beyond educational matters within the Chinese American community.

“Not all people are aware there's a congressional election going on. We focus on education. That's important. But at a higher level, there's a bigger issue and broader issue that our community should care about,” Xu said.

With the advocacy groups’ efforts, the Chinese American community has seen a surge in civic engagement in recent years. Some rapidly acquire civic knowledge and no longer hesitate to voice their concerns directly to politicians. Xu expressed that the turnout was out of her expectations, noting that it marked a remarkable increase compared to other events they've hosted.

“People really knew a lot about the political system with a lot of details,” said John Morse, a candidate and lawyer. “I think your first priority as a member of Congress needs to be talking to your constituents, and that's why having events like this is so important. ”

Don Quinn, another candidate and lawyer, drove for hours from Annapolis to attend the forum. “This event is near and dear to my heart because it's (held by) parents. I have seven kids in the school system. And so, for me, coming all this way was an opportunity to meet with parents who, in many regards, are like-minded. I wanted to come out and meet people who believe in education, ” Quinn said.

Several teenagers were in the audience. They actively asked the candidates questions and discussed their concerns with them.

“It’s important to be involved at an early age so that a good political view can be shaved,” John Gao, an 8th grader from Clarksville Middle School, said he believes that some individuals become extreme in their views due to a lack of proper political education. Therefore, he's eager to start his civic engagement early to ensure informed decision-making in the future.

Two Asian American candidates, Clarence Lam and Mark Chang, attended the forum, which inspired young audiences.

Clarence Lam, a candidate and a Maryland State Senator, said to the audience that this election presents a rare chance to send someone of Chinese American descent, like him, to Congress. With only three Chinese Americans currently serving as federal lawmakers, Lam emphasized the significance of having representation in Congress.

“Seeing people like me in this field really inspires me. Maybe, hopefully, one day, I’m going to this field as well,” said Eric Huang, a junior at Marriotts Ridge High School.

Five Maryland State legislators are running to represent the district. Three of them showed up, including Terri Hill, a Maryland State Delegate and a surgeon. She expressed her commitment to staying connected with the Asian American community, whether she secures a congressional seat or remains in her current role in the State Assembly.

“Not just with issues that are unique and important for the AAPI community, but for any issue. We need representation everywhere,” Hill said, as a Black American, she knew “what it’s like when you’re left out.” She encouraged the Asian American community to continue speaking up for their interests.

“I believe firmly that if you're not at the table, you're probably on the menu,” Hill said, “ You have to speak up for yourself. And you have to speak up for your interests. And once people get used to listening to your voice, they lean into it.”

Lan Deng, the Executive Director of CAPA-HC, said that the forum offers the Chinese American community a chance to elect representatives who genuinely reflect their interests. Alongside the candidate forum, they also urge community members to engage in other civic activities, like giving testimony at public hearings, to actively participate in shaping policies before decisions are finalized.