Asian Americans will join Representative Theresa Mah in the Illinois General Assembly

Asian Americans made their mark at the voting booth and on the ballot this year in Illinois.

Community groups mobilized thousands of voters to the polls while Asian American elected officials made gains in the Illinois General Assembly.

The historic Election Day results showed two new Asian Americans will join Representative Theresa Mah in the Illinois General Assembly: Senator-elect Ram Villivalam and Representative-elect Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz. In addition, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi will return to Washington, D.C. for a second term.

“I’m thrilled to invite two more Asian Americans to the General Assembly starting in January,” said Rep. Theresa Mah, the first Asian American to be elected to the Illinois General Assembly. “Asian Americans across the state are building power and demanding justice alongside Black and Latinx communities. Together I am confident that the General Assembly will come together next session to protect our communities, and push an equitable agenda for all Illinoisans.”

美国大选正在如火如荼进行中。3月15日，美国芝加哥选委会公布伊州第二众议员选区66个投票所开票结果，美籍广东中山移民马静仪共获得1.47万张票，初选得票率51.22%，赢得该州第二众议院选区初选。至此，马静仪成为伊州首位华裔众议员，也是第一位进入伊州议会的亚裔人士，改写了伊州议会百年无亚裔的历史。

据介绍，马静仪祖籍为中山市板芙镇深湾村，父亲马金权为中山市板芙镇深湾村人，早年携家移民美国伊利诺伊州，现为旧金山市阳和总会馆主席。马静仪自幼勤于学业，先后取得柏克莱加大学位和芝加哥大学历史学博士学位。学成毕业后她先在伊州等多所大学任教，担任嘉理中学学区委员等职。

受到父亲的影响，马静仪热心为华人社区服务。为了帮助在美华裔谋求福祉，她放弃了大学教授的待遇优厚，积极投身政坛，曾担任伊州州长奎恩的高级政策顾问等职务。在工作中，她深入了解华人社区以及其他族裔移民群体，为亚裔等移民群体争取进入州府工作等平等权利进行不懈的努力，并取得了促成亚裔公平就业法等一系列成果。

为了更好地协助亚裔等移民家庭争取公平机会和平等权利，2015年，马静仪宣布竞选伊州众议员。截至3月15日，美国芝加哥选委会公布伊州第二众议员选区开票结果，马静仪赢得该州第二众议院选区初选，成为伊州首位华裔众议员和第一位进入伊州议会的亚裔人士。