[New York Diary] No Matter Who Wins, a Korean American Mayor Will Emerge: Spotlight on the New Jersey Election

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] A few months ago, the place my mother found most fascinating during her first-ever visit to the United States was not Times Square, Central Park, or the Statue of Liberty, all symbols of New York. It was Broad Avenue in Palisades Park, New Jersey, a representative Korean American town in the eastern U.S. Walking through this area lined with Korean signs at every step, my mother trailed off, saying, "It must not have been easy living in a foreign country," as various emotions welled up.

These days, the U.S. is bustling with election campaigns ahead of the midterm elections on the 8th. Especially in Palisades Park, New Jersey, home to a large Korean American community, attention is drawn to the fact that, for the first time in the 120-year history of Korean immigration, Korean candidates are competing against each other for the mayoral seat. Walking through Palisades Park, one can easily find Korean alongside English on various banners encouraging voting. Both major parties, the Democratic and Republican, have nominated Korean American candidates?Paul Kim and Stephanie Jang?making the election of a Korean American mayor a foregone conclusion regardless of the election outcome.

Locals agree that it is highly unusual for Korean Americans to run as candidates from major parties and face off in U.S. elections. However, Sarah Park, a second-generation immigrant living near Palisades Park, commented, "It feels natural when it comes to Palisades Park." This is due to the demographic composition of Palisades Park. With a population of 20,000, Palisades Park is considered a Korean-dense area despite not being Korean territory. According to the 2010 census, Koreans made up 52% of the population in this area, with voters exceeding 60%. Bergen County, New Jersey, where Palisades Park is located, was also identified as 59% Asian population as of 2020.

(From left) Paul Kim, Democratic Party candidate, and Stephanie Jang, Republican Party candidate

Four years ago in Palisades Park, Chris Jung, running as a Democratic candidate, defeated the incumbent three-term Italian American mayor, becoming the first Korean American mayor in history. Both Paul Kim and Stephanie Jang, running this time, have expressed their intention to make Palisades Park a city where Koreans and other ethnic Americans coexist.

In this midterm election, 35 of the 100 Senate seats, all 435 House seats, governors of 36 states, the mayor of Washington D.C., state legislators in 46 states, and attorneys general in 30 states will be newly elected. Over 40 Korean American candidates have thrown their hats into the ring. Among them, five Korean American candidates are running for the U.S. House of Representatives, the core of Washington's political power. As in 2020, this is the largest number of Korean American candidates in U.S. history to run again. Among them, four incumbent representatives?Andy Kim (Democrat), Young Kim (Republican), Marilyn Strickland (Democrat), and Michelle Steel (Republican)?are currently predicted to win comfortably, except for David Kim. Additionally, in Hawaii, Korean American candidate Sylvia Chang Luke is running for lieutenant governor. If elected, she will hold the highest state government office ever attained by a Korean American.

Their progress is a testament to the rising political power of Korean Americans in the U.S. It offers a glimpse into the journey of the Korean American community, which, after experiencing shocks like the 1992 LA riots and identity confusion as Korean Americans, felt the need for political representatives to speak for them.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.