We featured them in March in our annual Power List of 40 people with undeniable influence on key political battles, from abortion to environmental justice to elections to tense negotiations with geopolitical foes.
kamala harris
Selected on The Recast Power List for leading the White House’s fight for abortion access during the midterm elections, the vice president herself pressured the administration to continue speaking out on the issue of abortion, arguing that it was a matter of personal freedom and would resonate with voters of any gender. .
With Biden announcing his re-election bid last week, expect Harris to play a prominent role, explaining why voters should give the Biden-Harris administration four more years.
diana hwan
Hwang is nothing short of a change agent. Years ago, she founded an incubator program with the goal of identifying and elevating progressive AAPI women into political leadership. Last year she upped her game, with the Asian American Women’s Political Initiative creating a grant program that focuses on giving women up to $10,000 for civic impact projects.
With elections coming up next year and AAPI’s growing influence in politics, we predict you’ll be hearing a lot more about it in the years to come.
kimberly yee
Nothing beats a politician who can connect with his voters. Yee demonstrated this like no other Arizona Republican could last a cycle. In a year when election deniers like Kari Lake and Blake Masters were running on the same ticket and losing their respective races, Yee easily won the race for state treasurer. She attributed it to her campaign’s focus on not being distracted by «side issues.»
Yee is now one of the few Asian-American women to hold state office in the nation. She expects her profile to rise among national Republicans next year.
kim todd
If you’re worried that the polluters will pay, then you call Kim. Taking companies to court and forcing them to pay to limit toxic chemicals being put into the air and filing complaints in cities like Jackson for violating rules on safe drinking water for their residents — all of that is part of Kim’s logjam.
Keep an eye on DOJ counsel as this fight continues: Environmental justice is a key pillar of the Biden administration’s platform.
lindsay kagawa tails
Along with Cherelle Griner on our list, the wife of formally detained WNBA star Brittney Griner, Colas played a pivotal role in helping secure the hooper’s release from a Russian prison. Colas used her megaphone to highlight why Griner was in Russia to begin with: the huge pay gap between WNBA and NBA stars.
Look to Colas, who is serving as Griner’s agent, to help Griner on his way back to court as he advocates for other Americans detained in Russia.