ASPIRE PAC Announces Two New Leadership Members

Marilyn Strickland and Jill Tokuda Will Serve as ASPIRE PAC Vice Chairs

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, ASPIRE PAC announced the election of Congresswomen Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and Jill Tokuda (HI-02) as ASPIRE PAC Vice Chairs. 

“I’m proud to have Marilyn Strickland and Jill Tokuda serve alongside me as a part of ASPIRE PAC’s leadership team,” said ASPIRE PAC Chair Grace Meng. “They are both incredible voices for the AANHPI community and understand the importance of mobilizing our community’s vote. I’m grateful to be able to lean on their strong advocacy as ASPIRE PAC continues to grow and do its part to ensure Democrats retake the House majority and hold the Senate and White House come November.”

“ASPIRE PAC plays a vital role in supporting AAPI candidates, mobilizing our community to vote, and delivering victories. As the proud daughter of a Korean mother, it is an honor to be a part of the ASPIRE PAC leadership team and to serve alongside my friends Grace Meng and Jill Tokuda as we work to help Democrats win this November,” said Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10).

“I’m honored to serve as a Vice-Chair on the ASPIRE PAC board. This cycle there are great opportunities to increase AANHPI representation across the country and ASPIRE PAC’s electoral work will make this happen. As Vice-Chair, I’m ready to work urgently to help take back the house, fight to keep the Senate and White House, and uplift the voices of AANHPI communities across the country,” said Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (HI-02).

Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland proudly represents Washington’s 10th Congressional District, which covers parts of Pierce County and Thurston County. Born in Seoul, South Korea to an African American father and South Korean mother, she is the first African American to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level and one of the first Korean American women elected to Congress in its 232-year history. In Congress, she serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and House Armed Services Committee.

Congresswoman Jill Tokuda represents Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District. She is serving her first term in Congress, sitting on the House Agriculture and House Armed Services Committees. She was also appointed to serve on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. She has worked in the government, non-profit, and private sectors before running for Hawai’i State Senate in 2006, where she represented Kāne’ohe and Kailua for 12 years until 2018. 

Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders Rising & Empowering Political Action Committee (ASPIRE PAC) is the political arm of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Members of Congress. ASPIRE PAC is committed to supporting candidates of AAPI descent and incumbents who represent large communities of AAPI voters. According to the 2020 census, the AAPI community is the fastest-growing demographic in the country. In addition, in 2020 the AAPI community increased its voter turnout more than any other community of color. There are currently 21 AAPI Members of Congress, including two U.S. Senators, and two new Members of Congress – Shri Thanedar (MI-13) and Jill Tokuda (HI-02).

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