Recruiting and supporting AAPI and other candidates of color to run for office and win.
AAPI leaders need more seats at the table.
Asian Americans make up over 6% of the US population but less than 1% of elected leaders across all levels of government.
Now, amidst a rise in hate crimes against the AAPI community during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever that we bring AAPI voices to the table.
Representation starts with a conversation.
To elect more diverse leaders to public office, we need more talented Asian Americans and people of color to step up and run.
In Our Hands PAC aims to recruit, train, and support Asian Americans and allies to seek elected positions up and down the ballot.
How we started
Congressman Andy Kim knows what it’s like to have the odds stacked against him. His 2018 victory in NJ-03 made him the first Korean American Democrat to hold federal office.
Andy ran in and won the most expensive race in New Jersey history, against a well-funded incumbent in a district that was more than 80% white and voted for Trump by six points.
Andy’s new project, In Our Hands, is designed to recruit and support AAPI and other candidates of color to run for office and expand civic engagement among historically forgotten communities. Andy believes that together we can build a new generation of leadership.
“When I first ran for Congress, insiders told me I can’t win because my majority white district wouldn’t vote for an Asian American or a candidate of any color. With the help of many people, we proved them wrong, and I want to now work with you to lift up AAPI and other candidates of color all over the country.”
— Congressman Andy Kim
“[Kim’s'] new PAC comes at a time when the nation is grappling with bigoted attacks against Asian Americans — a long hum of racism that the pandemic has ‘poured gasoline on,’ Kim said — and a hope of channeling the energy in a positive way”
– POLITICO: ‘Andy Kim is taking on the daunting task of recruiting Asian Americans for office’
Help us identify AAPI and other leaders of color in your community
We’re interested in getting to know leaders from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life who might be interested in running for office. Know a leader in any field who’s making a difference? Let us know so we can start the conversation.