Celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
In 2022, you elected our first Vietnamese American, Korean American, Palestinian American Muslim, Indian American Muslim, and South Asian Pacific Islander American members to the Illinois House. Our Asian American Caucus DOUBLED. And we’re just getting started.
Rep. Hoan Huynh (13th District)
Rep. Hoan Huynh is the first refugee and the first Vietnamese American elected to state office in Illinois history. He is also the first Asian American to represent the Chicago North Side in the State Legislature.
Rep. Kevin Olickal (16th District)
Rep. Kevin Olickal became one of the first South Asian Americans elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 2022. He is a lifelong Skokie resident raised by immigrant parents from India. He currently represents the most diverse House District in the state.
Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (17th District)
Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz is the granddaughter of Chinese immigrants and the daughter of civil rights activists. In 2021, Rep. Gong-Gershowitz was a leading voice for the historic TEAACH Act which requires public schools to include Asian American history in their curriculum.
Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid (21st District)
Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid made history as the first Palestinian American to serve in the Illinois House of Representatives. He is also one of the first Muslim Americans elected to the Illinois General Assembly in state history.
Leader Theresa Mah (24th District)
Leader Theresa Mah became a trailblazer and history maker in 2016, as the first Asian American elected to the Illinois General Assembly in our state’s history. In 2023, she became the first Asian American appointed to the House leadership team.
Rep. Janet Yang Rohr (41st District)
Rep. Janet Yang Rohr has represented the Naperville, Bolingbrook, and Warrenville communities since 2021. She is a businesswoman and school board member known for using her business and finance expertise to deliver commonsense solutions.
Rep. Nabeela Syed (51st District)
Rep. Nabeela Syed is not only one of the first Muslim Americans to serve in the Illinois State Legislature, but she is also one of the youngest women ever elected in Illinois history at age 23. She currently serves as our Freshmen Caucus Whip.
Rep. Sharon Chung (91st District)
In 2023, Rep. Sharon Chung became the first Korean American to represent Central Illinois in the House. She is also a former McLean County board member, teacher, professional musician, and mother.