3 Asian-American Candidates Are Competing in The District 40 Primary in Queens!

Ahead of the June 25 primaries, the race for New York State Assembly in Queens has garnered significant attention, particularly in District 40, which encompasses parts of Flushing and surrounding neighborhoods. Three Asian-American candidates, all immigrants, are vying to capture the hearts and minds of the constituents.

Incumbent Ron Kim, who was raised in Flushing and became the first Korean-American elected to the Legislature in 2012, faces challenges from two Chinese-American opponents: Dao Yin and Yi Andy Chen.

Kim, a progressive favorite, is well-known for his stance against Andrew Cuomo during the pandemic, demanding an investigation into Cuomo’s handling of nursing home deaths. Despite his reputation, Kim is seen as vulnerable, having narrowly beaten his Republican challenger by fewer than 500 votes in the last election.

Kim emphasizes uplifting the middle class as a solution to quality-of-life issues like public safety, stating, “When the middle class is shrinking, as we’re seeing in my district, everything fails.”

Dao Yin, born in Shanghai, aims to improve transportation in the district. With a background in finance and computer information systems, Yin plans to bring a business-oriented approach to his campaign, reminiscent of former Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “I’m a numbers person, so I know how to do the budget,” Yin asserted.

Yi Andy Chen, originally from Fuzhou, focuses on improving schools and affordable housing. Chen, who is deeply involved in local organizations, believes he has the necessary connections to make significant changes. He criticizes Kim’s long tenure, saying, “Twelve years is way too long, and we cannot wait anymore.”

Political analyst Hank Sheinkopf noted the district’s ethnic diversity, including Koreans, Chinese, and other Asian communities, alongside non-immigrant residents. While Kim enjoys support from the left, the center and right factions desire change.

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Sheinkopf highlighted the difficulty of unseating an incumbent, as more than 90% typically get re-elected. However, Kim believes his opponents lack deep roots in the community, stating, “When it rains in my district, it pours in my family, and no one in this race can say the same thing.”