FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2026
CONTACT:
Vanessa Kang | (808) 398-6914 | media@nakatomipr.com
WHAT
A coalition of leading Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) organizations, led by the Korean American Democratic Committee (KADC), Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE), Through Peace, World Mission University and AAPI Equity Alliance will host a California gubernatorial candidate forum on April 18. As the only forum hosted by AANHPI organizations for AANHPI communities in Los Angeles County – this event will offer Democratic and Republican gubernatorial candidates a unique opportunity to engage directly with AANHPI communities, share their vision for the state, and outline how they will support AANHPI priorities as Governor.
RSVP required to attend. Email media@nakatomipr.com.
WHO
Confirmed candidates include:
Xavier Becerra
Tom Steyer
Eric Swalwell (Note: Campaign suspended.)
Tony Thurmond
Antonio Villaraigosa
Betty Yee
Invitations to participate were sent to the top 10 gubernatorial candidates based on fundraising totals reported to the California Secretary of State as of February 17, 2026.
WHERE
World Mission University
500 Shatto Place, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Very limited on-site parking. Please arrive early to find street parking nearby.
WHEN
Saturday, April 18, 2026
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Candidate Forum
12 p.m. to 1 p.m.: Press room available for one-on-one interviews
NOTES
The program will begin promptly at 10 a.m. Doors will open at 9 a.m. and we ask that all members of the media arrive early to be in place for this event.
Leaders from the host organizations are available for interviews to discuss this historic collaboration between organizations and the significance of this event to AANHPI communities.
Contact media@nakatomipr.com to schedule.
This event will not be livestreamed. Videos of candidate responses with translations will be made available by May 4, 2026.
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BACKGROUND
Economic and Demographic Power
More than 7.3 million Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders reside in California, representing more than 15% of the state's population and one of its fastest-growing communities over the past decade. AANHPI-owned businesses account for nearly 25% of the state's businesses, generating over $200 billion in economic activity. The AANHPI community holds a collective $2 trillion in consumer purchasing power and comprises nearly 20% of California's electorate.
Co-Hosting Organizations (40)
Korean American Democratic Committee (KADC); Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE); Through Peace; World Mission University; AAPI Equity Alliance; along with: UCLA Asian American Studies Center’s Asian American Pacific Islander Policy Initiative; Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts Political Science and International Relations; Pilipino Workers Center (PWC); Asian Dems of Los Angeles; 'Ahahui Kīwila Hawaiʻi o San Diego; Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL); Asian American Media Alliance (AAMA); Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County (APABA); Asian Pacific Community Fund (APCF); Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement; Cal State Los Angeles College of Ethnic Studies; Chinese American Citizens Alliance, Chinese American Museum; Daniel K. Inouye National Center for the Preservation of Democracy at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM); Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC); Faith And Community Empowerment (FACE); Hawaii's Daughters Guild of California; Khmer Girls in Action (KGA); Korean American Federation of Los Angeles (KAFLA); Leadership and Education through Gaagana Fa’asamoa (Le GaFa); Little Tokyo Community Council (LTCC); Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC); Nikkei Progressives; OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates of Greater Los Angeles; Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA); Pacific Islander Collective San Diego (PICSD); Pacific Islander Health Partnership (PIHP); Pilipino American Los Angeles Democrats (PALAD); PIVOT: The Progressive Vietnamese American Organization; Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA); South Asian Network (SAN); Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC); Southern California Pacific Islander Community Response Team (SoCal PICRT); Thai Community Development Center (Thai CDC); United Cambodian Community and others.
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