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

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/

 

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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/

 

 

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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/

 

 

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STATE RACES

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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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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

 

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MUNICIPAL RACES

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/

 

 

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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/

 

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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/

 

 

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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/

 

 

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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/

 

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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/

 

 

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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

 

 

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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/

 

 

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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/

 

 

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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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We will update as more candidates announce their campaign. Please let us know if we miss any candidates.