Tuesday marks the start of the 2020 primary election season, whose results will determine what names will appear on the general election ballot on Nov. 3 for many of the races. There are some Hmong and Lao Americans running for public office this year, and Little Laos on the Prairie compiled of list of candidates, from Congressional to municipal, to watch.
While we see new faces from the municipal to the Congressional level, familiar names include Minnesota State Senator Foung Hawj, who is running for his third term, and Mayor Steve Ly, who also is campaigning for his third term for the mayoral seat of Elk Grove, California.
Five Hmong Americans currently seated in the Minnesota State House are up for re-election.
CONGRESSIONAL RACES

Photo credit to Bliatout for 22
Bobby Bliatout
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Office: U.S. House of Representatives for California’s 22nd Congressional District
This will be Bliatout’s second time running for California’s 22nd Congressional District. The first time he ran for this office was in the 2018 election, losing in the primary to fellow Democrat Andrew Janz.
For more information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bliatoutfor22/
Website: https://www.bobbybliatout.com/

Photo credit to Sou Moua for Congress
Sou Moua
Party Affiliation: Republican
Office: U.S. House of Representatives for California’s 47th Congressional District
For more information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soumouaforcongress/

Photo credit to Sia Lo for Congress
Sia Lo
Party Affiliation: Republican
Office: U.S. House of Representatives for Minnesota’s 4th Congressional District
For more information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SiaLo4Congress/
Website: https://www.sialo4congress.com/
STATE RACES

Photo credit to Minnesota State Senate
Foung Hawj
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Office: Minnesota State Senator for District 67
Incumbent Foung Hawj’s first attempt at District 67 was in 2010 when he lost in the primary to John Harrington. In 2012, he ran for District 67 again and advanced to the general election where he defeated Republican Mike Capistrant. He won a second term in 2016.
For more information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/senatorhawj/
Website: https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.php?member_id=1213

Photo credit to Minnesota House
Kaohly Her
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Office: Minnesota State House of Representative for District 64A
Kaohly Her was first elected for District 64A in 2018 and is running for a second term.
For more information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepKaohlyHer/
Website: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15532

Photo credit to Minnesota House
Samantha Vang
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Office: Minnesota State House of Representative for District 40B
Samantha Vang was first elected for District 40B in 2018 and is running for a second term.
For more information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/representativesamanthavang/
Website: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/Profile/15510

Photo credit to Minnesota House
Jay Xiong
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Office: Minnesota State House of Representative for District 67B
Jay Xiong was first elected for District 67B in 2018 and is now seeking a second term.
For more information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepJayXiong/
Website: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/Profile/15533

Photo credit to Minnesota House
Fue Lee
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Office: Minnesota State House of Representative for District 59A
Fue Lee was first elected to District 59A in 2016 and re-elected for his second term in 2018. He is running for a third term.
For more information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepFueLee/
Website: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/Profile/15468

Photo credit to Minnesota House
Tou Xiong
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Office: Minnesota State House of Representative for District 53A
Tou Xiong was first elected to District 53A in 2018. He is running for a second term.
For more information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepTouXiong/
Website: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15520
MUNICIPAL RACES

Photo credit to Sunny for Judge
Sunny Panyanouvong-Rubeck
Party Affiliation: Republican
Office: Judge for North Carolina 26th Judicial District (located in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina)
For more information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunnyforjudge/
Website: https://www.sunnyforjudge.com/

Photo credit to EG Mayor Steve Ly
Steve Ly
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Office: Mayor for the City of Elk Grove, California
Steve Ly was elected in 2012 to serve on the Elk Grove Unified School Board and later began serving on the Elk Grove City Council in 2014. During that term, he was elected by the city council to be Vice Mayor. He served in that role until he won the 2016 election for mayor. This is Ly’s re-election campaign for a third term.
For more information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EGMayorSteveLy/
Website: https://mayorstevely.com/

Photo credit to Shoua Lo for Mayor
Shoua Lo
Party Affiliation: Republican
Office: Mayor for the City of Stockton, California
For more information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voteshoualoformayor/
Website: https://www.shoualoformayor.com/

Photo credit to Tzianeng For Ramsey Commissioner
Tzianeng Vang
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Office: Ramsey County Board of Commissioners for District 7, Minnesota
For more information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tzianeng-For-Ramsey-Commissioner-District-7-101595414764898/

Photo credit to Xiong VFX & Lee Lor
Lee Lor
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Office: Merced County Board of Supervisors for District 2, California
Lee Lor was elected to the Merced County Board of Supervisors in 2016 and is running for a second term.
For more information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeLorMercedCountySupervisorDistrict2/
Website: https://www.leelordistrict2.com/

Photo credit to Vote for voteformai
Mai Xiong
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Office: Macomb County Board of Commissioners for District 2, Michigan
For more information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voteformai/
Website: https://www.voteformai.com/

Photo credit to Mai Xiong for Eau Claire
Mai Xiong
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Office: Eau Claire City Council At-Large, Wisconsin
For more information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mx4ec/
Website: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mai-xiong-for-eau-claire-1

Photo credit to Mai Vang Sacramento
Mai Vang
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Office: Sacramento City Council for District 8, California
For more information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaiVangSacramento/
Website: https://maivang.org/

Photo credit to Ali Moua City Council 2020
Ali Moua
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Office: Elk Grove City Council for District 1, California
For more information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ali-Moua-City-Council-2020-114634216749363/
Website: http://alimouacitycouncil.com/

Photo credit to SeanYang4Schoolboard
Xiong Sean Yang
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Office: Elk Grove Unified School Board of Trustees
This race has no primary and will appear on the November general ballot.
For more information
Website: https://www.seanyang4schoolboard.com/
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