ANAHEIM, CA – Twenty-nine Asian American elected officials and community leaders are demanding that Congressman Ken Calvert publicly apologize for his campaign’s attacks against Congresswoman Young Kim, condemning his attempts to portray her as compromised by the Chinese Communist Party.
In a letter sent to Calvert, the leaders called his accusations an “outright lie and hurtful to the entire Asian American community.”
“For generations, Asian Americans have had their loyalty and patriotism questioned because of their heritage,” the joint letter states. “We deserve better than to have those same prejudices exploited for political gain.”
The letter was signed by prominent elected officials and community leaders, including State Senator Steven Choi, Assemblymember Tri Ta, former Assemblymember Van Tran, Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen, and numerous other local officials and Asian American community leaders.
The leaders also highlighted the hypocrisy of Calvert’s attacks against Kim, who has established herself as a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party and has faced threats from the Chinese government because of her advocacy.
“No one has a stronger record in Congress than Congresswoman Kim in confronting the Chinese Communist Party and standing up for U.S. National Security – so much so that the Chinese Communist Party has called for her arrest,” the letter continues.
The letter concludes by calling on Calvert to “immediately and publicly apologize to Congresswoman Young Kim and the Asian American community for these racist smears.”
Calvert’s ad can be viewed HERE. A PDF of the letter can be downloaded HERE. The text of the letter can be viewed below.
October 13, 2026
Representative Calvert,
We write to you as Asian American elected officials and community leaders to express how deeply disturbed we are for your reckless and defamatory attacks on Congresswoman Young Kim, in which you characterize her as “compromised” by the Chinese Communist Party. This is an outright lie and hurtful to the entire Asian American community.
No one has a stronger record in Congress than Congresswoman Kim in confronting the Chinese Communist Party and standing up for U.S. National Security – so much so that the Chinese Communist Party has called for her arrest. You should know better.
To dismiss that record and insinuate that Congresswoman Kim, an Asian-American, is an agent of the Chinese Communist Party is not only reckless, but also the height of hypocrisy considering you did the very same thing you are now attacking Congresswoman Kim over.
We call on you to immediately and publicly apologize to Congresswoman Young Kim and the Asian American community for these racist smears. For generations, Asian Americans have had their loyalty and patriotism questioned because of their heritage. We deserve better than to have those same prejudices exploited for political gain.
Sincerely,
Steven Choi, State Senator
Tri Ta, State Assemblymember
Van Tran, Former State Assemblymember
Hugh Nguyen, Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Peggy Huang, Yorba Linda Mayor Pro Tem
Janice Lim, Yorba Linda Councilmember
Shivinder Singh, Yorba Linda Councilmember
Nitesh Patel, La Palma Mayor
Debbie Baker, La Palma Councilmember
Ruth Low, Diamond Bar Mayor Pro Tem
Ed Chen, Temple City Mayor Pro Tem
Fred Jung, Fullerton Mayor
Roger Yoh, Orange County Water District
Frances Nguyen, Westminster School District
Joseph Lee, President, Korean American Chamber of Orange County*
James Bong Cho, President, Korean American Federation of Orange County*
Guk Hyun Choi, Council of Korean Churches in Orange County*
Alex Tran, President, Viet Strong*
Alex Chen, President, Formosan Association for Public Affairs Los Angeles*
Ken Wu, Vice President, Formosan Association for Public Affairs Los Angeles*
Yvonne Yang, President, Taiwanese American Chamber of Commerce of San Bernardino*
April Lin, Director, Taiwan Center of Greater Los Angeles*
Kim Wu, President, San Gabriel Valley Lion’s Club*
Catherine Chang, Boardmember, Formosan Association for Public Affairs Orange County*
Warner Kuo, Secretary, Taiwanese United Fund*
Aaron Kim, President, Inland Korean American Association*
Mina Kim, Past President, Inland Korean American Association*
Victor Hong, President, Formosan Association for Public Affairs Orange County*
Paul Chen, Honorary President, Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles*
*Signed in a personal capacity and not on behalf of the organization. Organization is listed for identification purposes only.
# # #