The global reach of the Filipino diaspora encompasses almost 200 countries and totals more than 12 million. In several countries, notably the US where the biggest number resides, Filipinos have established their presence not only in the workforce but also in government where they occupy positions either as elected officials and/or appointments.

Here is an initial list compiled from various online sources, from councilor level and up for 2024-2025. We are aware that we may have missed some names especially from other countries. Please let us know if you have additions to this list. Email pfpublisher@yahoo.com.

Canada

Mable Elmore is a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Canada. Elmore was first elected as the MLA for Vancouver-Kensington in 2009 when she made history by becoming the first MLA of Filipino heritage. She was reelected in 2013, 2017, 2020, and 2024. Prior to her election to the Legislative Assembly, she worked as a transit operator for 10 years. She has been active in the peace movement and has worked on a wide range of immigrant, social justice, and workers’ rights issues. 

Rechie Valdez is a Member of the House of Commons in Canada. Her constituency is Mississauga-Streetsville, Ontario. She is the first Filipino Canadian woman, and second Filipino Canadian after former Manitoba Liberal MP Rey Pagtakhan, to be elected as a Member of Parliament in Canada. Born in Zambia to overseas Filipino workers, Valdez assumed office in 2021 and was reelected in 2023. She is currently Minister of Small Business.

Stephanie Valenzuela is a Montreal city councilor, the first Filipino to be elected to the Montreal local government. She is now on her fourth and last year as city councilor. She stands up for the rights and concerns of her diverse borough. Around 75 percent of residents are immigrants. Of the 40,000 Filipinos in Montreal, more than half are in her borough.

South Korea

Jasmine Bacurnay Lee is a South Korean television personality, actress, and civil servant. Elected as a proportional representative in South Korea’s National Assembly in 2012, she is the first non-ethnic Korean and naturalized South Korean to become a lawmaker. Her husband, Lee Dong-ho died of a heart attack while saving their daughter from drowning in a mountain stream during a family vacation. Lee was excluded from the party’s list for the 2016 election, but she returned to politics in 2020 as a candidate for the Justice Party and won reelection to Parliament on January 25, 2024. She has been hit with charges of misrepresenting her education and racist criticisms stating that she is not a “true” Korean.

United Kingdom

Anthony “Tony” Vaughan is a Member of Parliament for Folkestone and Hythe, in Kent. He is the first MP of Filipino descent. He assumed office on July 4, 2024. Born to an English father and a Filipino mother (Aida “Inday” Lagrimas from San Roque), Vaughan studied law at St. Catherine’s College, Cambridge and was awarded a post-graduate LLM at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He was a human rights lawyer before moving into politics.

Myla Arceno is a cardiac rehab specialist NHS physiotherapist, clinical educator and elected councilor for Martina Woods, Stevenage, United Kingdom. She was Stevenage mayor from May 2023 to May 2024. She moved from the Philippines in 2003 and has been active in civic life over a number of years, co-founding the Stevenage Filipino-British Community and the Hertfordshire-wide Barrio Festival. She is also an active member of the European Network of Filipino Diaspora. When she was elected to the council in 2021 she became the first female Filipino councilor in the U.K. Arceno is now the third Filipino mayor in the U.K.

United States

Alaska

Genevieve Mina is a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 19th district and serves the Anchorage neighborhoods of Airport Heights, Mountain View, and Russian Jack, the most diverse schools and census tracts in the nation. Elected in November 2022 she assumed office on January 17, 2023. Mina is the second Filipino legislator. Before assuming elected office, Mina worked in nonprofit communications and for elected officials in the Anchorage Assembly and the Alaska Legislature. Mina was born and raised in Alaska, the daughter of immigrants from the Philippines. She attended East Anchorage High School and studied political science and biology at the University of Alaska Anchorage. While at UAA, Mina joined Young Democrats branch of the Alaska Democratic Party, later becoming president of the university chapter, and selected as a delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

Arizona

Junelle Cavero Harnal was re-elected to represent District 11. She is the first Filipina American in the Arizona State Legislature. On April 16, 2024, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors selected her for appointment to the Arizona House of Representatives and was sworn in the following day. Cavero replaced incumbent Marcelino Quiñonez, who resigned two weeks before.

California

Eric Arias is the first Filipino American councilmember in Bakersfield, California. Arias, 24, was born and raised in the Kern County city. He was elected to its council to represent Ward I during the special general election on November 3. Arias aspired to follow in his father’s footsteps and serve in the U.S. Marine Corps but was diagnosed with Stage 4 Burkitt’s Lymphoma during his second year of college at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He went into remission and chose a career in public service. He currently serves as a field representative for state Assemblymember Rudy Salas. Bakersfield, the 11th largest city in California, has a population of 383,579 as of 2018. Residents of Asian descent make up about 7 percent of the population.

Phil Bacerra was elected to the Santa Ana City Council to represent Ward 4 last November 2019 and was re-elected in 2022. Bacerra is the son of a union grocery store manager and a waitress. He graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Planning. He worked for various city government agencies, including the city of Los Angeles. He served for over five years on the Santa Ana Planning Commission. He serves as a Board Member for Preserve Orange County and mentors students from his alma mater.

Garry Barbadillo was elected in November 2022 as Councilmember of the City of Milpitas and his term ends on November 2026. He is currently the Vice Mayor. He received Congressional recognition for 10 years of charitable services and providing pro bono legal services.

Nikki Fortunato Bas was elected in 2024 to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to serve District 5, which includes Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Piedmont, and parts of Oakland. She is a Filipina daughter of immigrants, a working mom, and a lifelong, award-winning organizer.

Rob Bonta is California’s 34th Attorney General. He is the first person of Filipino descent and the second Asian American to occupy the position. Prior to serving in the Assembly, Bonta worked as a Deputy City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco, where he represented the City and County and its employees, and fought to protect Californians from exploitation and racial profiling. Born in Quezon City, Philippines, Bonta immigrated to California with his family as an infant. He is the son of a proud native Filipino mother and a father who taught him the value of public service to his community.

Ray Buenaventura is a Councilmember of the Daly City Council and served as the city’s Mayor in 2013, 2015 and 2023. His current term expires in November 2026. He is also an attorney and Certified Criminal Law Specialist. In 2024, he was appointed as Lake County’s new chief public defender.

Christopher Cabaldon assumed office on December 2, 2024 as a member of the California State Senate for the 3rd district. He previously served as mayor of West Sacramento from 1998 to 2020, where he was the longest-serving mayor in the city's history. Cabaldon earned his BS in Environmental Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was student body vice president. He earned a master’s in Public Policy and Administration at California State University, Sacramento.

Corey Calaycay is Mayor Pro Tem, District 1, serving 19 years and the first Filipino American mayor of Claremont. He is a veteran in Claremont politics, having served five terms in office, starting in March 2005. He received his degree in business administration from Loyola Marymount University. Calaycay is Chairman of the County of Los Angeles Public Library Commission and Chairman of the Pomona Valley Transit Authority Board.

Jessica Caloza is the first Filipina American elected to the California State Assembly, representing District 52. She assumed office on December 2, 2024 and her current term ends on December 7, 2026. Caloza earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, San Diego. Her career experience includes serving as an L.A. Public Works Commissioner, Deputy Chief of Staff at the California Department of Justice, and as a policy advisor/analyst at the U.S. Department of Education.

Ollie Cantos is the first blind person and individual with a visible disability ever to be elected to the City Council of West Covina. Blind since birth, his parents are Filipino immigrants who moved to West Covina when he was four years old. He displayed early leadership skills in grade school. In college at Loyola Marymount where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree, he was Chairperson of the Student Senate. He has done work with the federal government since 2004. In 2010, he agreed to mentor 10-year-old triplet brothers who were also born blind. He eventually adopted them.

Evelyn Chua is the first woman of Filipino descent ever elected to serve on the Milpitas City Council. This year, Chua received the second highest number of votes, earning her one of two seats on the City Council. As a young girl growing up in the Philippines, Chua was well-acquainted with what it’s like to struggle. Her family lived in poverty. And when Chua was just five years old her dad passed away, and her brother was killed in the Vietnam War at only 29 years old. Before being elected to the City Council, Chua served the City of Milpitas in many ways – in the Emergency Preparedness Commission, Community Advisory Commission, Milpitas’ Citizens Task Force on Water Rates, and Safe Exchange Zone.

Dr. Rod Daus-Magbual’s term as Mayor of Daly City expires in November 2026. He received his Asian American Studies Master Program at San Francisco State University and his Education Doctorate from the University of San Francisco. He worked as adjunct faculty at different colleges and universities – Skyline College, UC Davis, Sonoma State University and University of San Francisco. He has been a City Council Member since 2016.

Gina Dawson was selected by the Lafayette City Council in December 2023 to serve as mayor. She served as vice mayor that year and was first elected to the City Council in 2020. This is her first time serving as Mayor. The mayoral rotation in Lafayette is decided by a vote of the City Council during the first regular meeting in December. The mayoral term is for one year. Her priorities are maintaining fiscal responsibility, enhancing community safety, fostering a thriving downtown, creating more housing opportunities, and promoting environmental sustainability. Dawson ran again as councilmember in 2024 and won.

Tony Daysog is a Councilmember for Alameda City Council whose term ends in 2026. An urban planner by profession, he holds a master’s degree in city planning from UC Berkeley. He ran for Rep. Barbara Lee’s House seat but lost in the primary.

Julie Del Castancio is a Councilmember of the City of Newark, whose term ends in 2028. A longtime resident of Newark, she is an active member of the community. She earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco School of Law, a Master of Science in Administration from Kansas University, and bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is a licensed attorney and credentialed educator.

Joanne F. Del Rosario is a councilmember of the City of Colma. Her term ends in 2026. First elected to the City Council in 2006, she served as mayor in 2015. Educated in the Philippines and the U.S., she is an Executive Assistant to the President/CEO of a biotech company in Emeryville.

Todd Gloria is the first person of color (Native American, Puerto Rican, Dutch and Filipino) and the first gay person to serve as mayor of San Diego, a city of over a million people. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of San Diego, with majors in history and political science. His career experience includes working with the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency and as the district director for U.S. Congresswoman Susan A. Davis.

Lynda P. Johnson is Mayor Pro Tem in 2025 in Cerritos. She was elected to the City Council in April 2022 and has been a resident of Cerritos since 1971. She served as a Governing Member of the ABC Unified School District Board of Education from 2011 through 2017. Currently, she serves as the Special Assistant to Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn. A 38-year employee of the County of Los Angeles, Mayor Pro Tem Johnson was a paralegal with the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office for 20 years. She also served as the Field Deputy to Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva from 2021 to 2022.

Ysabel Jurado is the newly elected Councilmember for Los Angeles City Council District 14 that covers Boyle Heights, Downtown Los Angeles, and parts of Northeast Los Angeles. She is an attorney focused on defending workers facing wage theft and representing tenants in eviction cases. Her grandmother, Irene Jurado, was a lawyer in Iligan, Philippines. She attended the University of California, Los Angeles where she earned her Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees.

Letty Lopez-Viado is the first Mexican Filipina American to be elected Councilwoman in the City of West Covina where about 11,000 Filipino Americans reside. Her mother hails from Manila and her late father is from Mexico. She has 18+ years of experience in the public sector and active volunteering. She served as a West Covina Community and Senior Services Commissioner from 2013 to 2018, when she was elected to the City Council. She is currently a Senior Director II with the City of Los Angeles, Department of Recreation & Parks and has a master’s degree in communication studies from Cal State Los Angeles.

Juslyn Manalo was re-elected to the Daly City Council, previously serving as Mayor, the first Filipina American in this role. Early in her career, Manalo became a Community Service Worker providing direct service to the Filipino World War II Veterans. She is a Community Engagement Manager, building partnerships to create community development opportunities such as affordable housing, jobs, open space, and youth development. Manalo earned her master’s in public administration from San Francisco State University's School of Public Affairs and Civic Engagement.

Diosdado “J.R.” Matulac was elected to represent District 2 – North Vallejo in the Vallejo City Council in November 2022. He is a former member of Vallejo’s Planning Commission. His term ends in January 2027.

John Morada was sworn in as the newest Councilmember to the City of Dublin representing District 3. His term expires in December 2028. He is the first Filipino to be elected to the City Council.

Mark Nagales grew up in South San Francisco and has been part of the community for over 30 years. He was the Constituent Services Director for Congresswoman Jackie Speier, and a Senior Aide to former California State Assembly member Gene Mullin. He was elected to the South San Francisco City council in 2018 and ran unopposed in 2020. In 2024, he was re-elected. He also served as Mayor of South San Francisco. He graduated from San Francisco State University with a bachelor’s degree in history and political science.

Buenaflor Nicolas was first elected at-large to the City Council of South San Francisco in November 2018 and as the District 3 representative in November 2022, becoming the third Asian American woman elected to the City Council, and only the fourth woman to serve in that capacity. She was installed as Mayor in December 2022. Nicolas earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering degree from Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila and a Master of Public Health from University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her professional career includes almost 25 years in leadership positions at various biotechnology companies. Her term as Councilmember expires in November 2026.

David Oro was re-elected as Council Member in the city of American Canyon, California, in November 2022 and his term expires in November 2026. Born in the Philippines to an American father and Filipina mother, David was raised on U.S. military bases spanning three continents. He is a founding member of the Open Space Advisory Committee (2005), chaired the SR 29 Gateway Corridor Plan Citizens Advisory Committee (2012), a Broadway Specific Plan Steering Committee member (2015). He graduated from the Napa County Sheriff and City’s Citizens Academies, was a founding member of the American Canyon Community and Parks Foundation, and has coached youth soccer, baseball, and basketball.

Charles Palmares is a Council Member of Vallejo, representing District 4. His term expires in January 2027. He is a former planning commissioner. He is a military veteran who works for a manufacturing company on Mare Island.

Mark Pulido was elected council member of Cerritos in 2011 and 2015 and served as Mayor in 2014-2015 and 2018-2019. He has worked nearly three decades in local, state, and federal governments. He returned to the City Council in the March 4, 2025 elections, garnering the highest votes.

Gabriel Quinto was first elected in 2014 to the El Cerrito Council, becoming the first Filipino American and first LGBTQ member. He was Mayor in 2018 and 2022, and he is currently Mayor Pro Tem. His term ends in 2026. He has prioritized equity and diversity in El Cerrito and on the boards he has served on over the years. The League of California Cities Board of Directors chose Quinto to serve as its 2024-25 first vice president.

Emily Ann Ramos is the first Filipino American on the Mountain View City Council and a strong advocate for housing and tenant protection. She was first appointed Councilmember in January 2024-2025 to fulfill an unscheduled vacancy. She is currently the Vice Mayor.

Melissa Ramoso was appointed Councilmember by the Artesia City Council last December 14. As the city’s second-in-command, she will serve with Mayor Rene Trevino for a one-year term in a city with a population of 16,758. She was elected to the council for a four-year term in 2018, becoming the city’s youngest councilmember. She credits her family, who immigrated from the Philippines, for her career in public service. Her grandfather was a WWII veteran, her mother is a retired registered nurse, and her father was a U.S. Army veteran and retired postal worker.

Arleen Bocatija Rojas is Councilmember for District 4 on the City of Carson City. Elected in November 2021, her term ends in November 2026. She is the second woman Filipino American Councilmember since 1993. Rojas’ parents, Alfred and Esther Bocatija, are originally from Iloilo City, Bacolod, and Negros Occidental, Philippines. They later settled in the Island of Guam, USA. In the early 1970's, the Bocatija family moved and settled in the City of Carson.

Cameron Sasai serves as the 53rd Mayor of Pinole, California. In the November 8, 2022 general election, he was elected to the Pinole City Council with the highest number of votes and made history as the first Filipino American and youngest mayor in Pinole's 120+ year history. He is an alumnus of the University of California, Davis, graduating with a degree in Political Science-Public Service after transferring from Diablo Valley College, a California Community College in Contra Costa County. He currently works for LEAD Filipino as their Public Policy & Advocacy Coordinator and serves as Vice Chair of the Endorsements Committee in the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County.

Ryyn Schummacher is the first and only Filipino American and first openly gay person of color elected to San Buenaventura Council. He currently serves as the Chief of Strategy and Communications/Public Information Officer for the Public Health Department at the County of Santa Barbara. His previous experience includes Interim Deputy Director and the Assistant Deputy Director for the Community Health division. He also served as the National Executive Director for the Federation of the Philippine American Chambers of Commerce leading over 40 chambers of commerce nationwide. He was nationally recognized as one of 10 Outstanding Young Filipino Americans in the USA by the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC in 2014. Schumacher received his undergraduate degree from California State University, Long Beach, and his master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from Pepperdine University.

Glenn Sylvester has been a public servant for 49 years, eight of which as an electee Councilmember of Daly City, California. Sylvester has resided in Daly for the past 32 years. He is proud to have served the community for over 44, and continues to do so currently as Mayor/Councilmember. He also serves on the Board of Directors and was chair of the Police Credit Union, Treasurer of SF Operation Dream, President of the San Francisco Veterans Police Officers Association, Sgt.-arms of the FilAm Democratic Club of San Mateo County, former Director of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of San Mateo County, and former President of the Filipino American Law Enforcement Officers Association.

Alexander Walker-Griffin won a council seat in Hercules, California in the December 2024 election and is the city’s current mayor. He also served as the mayor from 2022-2023. In his two years on the council he has passed and started a variety of initiative such as the Hercules Small Business Grant, Hercules Small Business Rental Relief Program, and the Hercules Community Gift Card Program. He also serves as a CalGuard Army officer. He is a graduate of Contra Costa College and received his BA in Politics from Saint Mary’s College of California. Walker-Griffin’s mother is “black and white.” His deceased father was Jamaican and Filipino.

Ditas Yamane is Vice Mayor and Council Member of National City, San Diego County, California. She founded the Mabuhay Foundation, a nonprofit entity that engages, builds, and educates the Filipino American community on economic, social, health, and political empowerment issues through civic engagement, developmental programs, and special projects.

Frank Aurelio Yokoyama was elected to the Cerritos City Council in 2017 and became Mayor Pro Tem in 2019. He was re-elected to the Cerritos City Council in 2022. A Cerritos resident since 1976, Yokoyama previously served as a Cerritos Planning Commissioner from 2011 to 2013. Yokoyama is a local businessman, attorney and a youth sports coach. He graduated from UC Berkeley Business School and Harvard Law School. Yokoyama is a City Liaison to the ABC Unified School District and is a member of the City's Performing Arts and County Health Department/ Health Insurance committees.

Georgia

Marvin Lim is the first Filipino American in the Georgia State Legislature, re-elected to District 98. He immigrated to Georgia from the Philippines at the age of seven. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory University where he graduated magna cum laude. He later obtained his Juris Doctor degree at Yale Law School. Lim focuses on civil rights and securities law.

Hawaii

Henry Aquino is a member of the Hawaii State Senate, representing District 19. He assumed office on November 8, 2022 and his term ends on November 7, 2028. Aquino's career experience includes working as the executive director and a program coordinator with the Waipahu Community Association. He has served as the director of the Waipahu Community Foundation and the Leeward Oahu Lions Club.

Elle Cochran is a member of the Hawaii State Legislature representing District 14, West Maui, which includes Wai'ehu, Waihe'e, Kahakuloa, Honokahua, Kahana, Mahinahina Camp, Ka'anapali, Lahaina, Lahainaluna, Olowalu ,and portions of Ma'alaea. Prior to becoming a Hawaii State Representative, she served as a member of Maui County Council from 2011 through 2018. She is the founder of the Save Honolulu Coalition and was a member of The National Ocean Council under the Obama administration.

Tyler Dos Santos-Tam is a member of the Honolulu City Council, representing District 6, which includes downtown Honolulu. He is of Filipino, Chinese, and Portuguese descent. He is also the Honorary Consul of Portugal.

Brandon Elefante is a member of the Hawaii Senate from the 16th district. He assumed office in November 2022 and his current term ends in November 2028. Elefante's career experience includes working as a high school teacher and coach, and staff assistant to Hawaii State Senator Will Espero. He served as the chair of the Large Cities Council of the National League of Cities.

Keani Rawlins Fernandez is a member of the Maui City Council, representing the Molokai area. She is the Vice-Chair of the Maui County Council, and chair of the Economic Development and Budget Committee.

Greggor Ilagan is a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives representing District 4. He assumed office on November 3, 2020 and his current term ends in November 2026.

Trish La Chica assumed office on February 15, 2023 as a Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 37th District, serving Mililani Town, Mililani Mauka, Wipio Gentry, and Koa Ridge. La Chica currently serves as Vice Chair for the House Committee on Education. Born in Manila, Philippines, she studied at Ateneo de Manila University and University of San Francisco. Her passion for advocacy began as an investigative journalist in Manila, where she produced documentaries that shed light on the daily struggles of Filipino families, and fought against corruption. She spent over 15 years in leadership roles working for non-profit organizations, as well as state and county government in areas such as health, Medicaid, housing, and homelessness.

Rosebella Martinez was a Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives representing district 40 from November 8, 2022 to November 5, 2024. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024. She has served as a member of the West-Oahu City Council.

Val Aquino Okimoto is a member of the Honolulu City Council representing District 8. Voted into office in 2023, her term ends in 2027. She is a former member and Minority Leader of the Hawaii House of Representatives from 2018 to 2022.

Maryland

Kris Valderrama represents District 26 in the Maryland House of Delegates. She assumed office on January 10, 2007 and her current term ends on January 13, 2027. She works as the anchor and co-host of Valderrama’s America.

Minneapolis

Nikki Villavicencio is Maplewood City Council Member, the first disabled Filipinx council member. Her term expires on December 31, 2028. She has been advocating for disability rights for more than a decade and has also testified to increase voter rights for people with disabilities, and increase wages and provide more training for home-care workers.

Nevada

Erica Mosca is a politician and teacher serving in the Nevada Assembly from the 14th district since 2022. She is the first Filipina legislator in Nevada. She is a proud first-generation college graduate, daughter of a Filipino immigrant, and social justice advocate. Part of the college access non-profit 10,000 Degrees in high school and serving as a fifth grade teacher with Teach For America, Las Vegas, Mosca experienced educational inequity in both her personal and professional life. In 2008 Mosca graduated Summa Cum Laude from Boston University and moved to Las Vegas to teach 5th grade in East Las Vegas. Mosca made her classroom theme “Leaders in Training” to advance equitable opportunity for students from a similar background as herself. “I ran for Nevada State Assembly to ensure we have someone who will work tirelessly and with empathy to ensure all Nevadans make a living wage, have equitable access to education, and will work to address housing and climate issues so that home can continue to be Nevada for generations to come.”

New Hampshire

Luz Bay was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives to represent Stafford County District 21 on November 2022. Her term ends in December 2026. Born and raised in the Philippines, the seventh of fourteen children, she earned a Ph.D. in Educational Measurement and Statistics.

New Jersey

Arvin Amatorio is a lawyer who graduated from San Sebastian College in Manila. He is mayor of Bergenfield, New Jersey, serving his second term. He is the second Filipino to serve as mayor of Bergenfield. He ran unopposed in 2023 and his term ends in 2027. He is also the Bergenfield Municipal Chairman of the Democratic Committee of Bergen County. He previously served as a two-term councilman and council president.

Buddy Deauna is a Council Member of the City of Bergenfield, New Jersey. He assumed office on January 1, 2023 and his term ends on December 31, 2025. He is one of the original incorporators of the Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF) and he is also one of five incorporators of the Filipino Heritage Foundation in Bergenfield. He was a former president of the Bergenfield Chamber of Commerce.

Marc Pascual is a council member of Bergenfield, New Jersey whose term expires on December 31, 2026. He filled the seat of Arvin Amatorio in 2020 when the latter took office as mayor.

New York

Steven Raga serves as Assemblymember for District 30, encompassing the neighborhoods of Woodside, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, Maspeth, and Jackson Heights. He also currently serves as the New York State Chairman for the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) as well as a member of its National Board of Governors. He is the Founder and current Board Member of Pilipino American Unity for Progress (UniPro), and Vice President of the Filipino American Democratic Club of New York. He also sits on the Board of Asian Women for Health, Woodside On The Move, and serves on the Community Engagement Subcommittee for the United Way Young Leaders Council of New York City. He is also a Queens County Democratic Committeeman For 34th Assembly District in the State of New York, a member of the NY State Advisory Council for the US Federal Civil Rights Commission and was appointed to Queens Community Board 2.

North Carolina

Maria Cervania won in the general election as a Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 41st district and assumed office on January 1, 2023. Cervania is a trained epidemiologist and biostatistician with over 20 years’ experience in public health. She was born in Oakland and raised in Sunnyvale, California, and graduated from University of California, Berkeley with a Biology and Physical Education degree. After graduation, she led a staff of 75 people at the local YMCA. She pursued a Master of Public Health degree at the University of Illinois in Chicago and served as president of the American Public Health Association Student Caucus and became a member of the editorial board of the American Journal of Public Health. She moved to Austin, Texas looking for a “hometown feel” like what Sunnyvale used to have in the 1980s. She met her husband there, and together they moved to Wake County, North Carolina.

Tennessee

Justin Jones is the first and only Filipino American in the Tennessee Legislature for District 52. At 30 years old, he is the second youngest member of the State House, and youngest Democratic lawmaker. He won in November 2024 to serve his second term. Born in Oakland, California to a Filipino mother and African American father, he earned a Bachelor of Arts from Fisk University and enrolled at Vanderbilt Divinity School.

Virginia

Bobby Scott, the only Member of Congress of Filipino ancestry, has been serving Congress for 32 years. As a ranking member of the Committee on Education and Workforce, he is leading the fight against the Trump-Musk chaos and its effect on students and workers.

Wisconsin

Angelito Tenorio is a Filipino American member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the state’s 14th Assembly district since 2025. He is a campaign organizer, educator, and Democratic politician from West Allis, Wisconsin. He previously served as a member of the West Allis City Council. He graduated from Marquette University High School in 2014, and attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He graduated early, earning his bachelor's degree in political science and government in 2017. While attending college, he also enlisted in the Wisconsin Army National Guard, and served from 2015 to 2018. In the fall of 2024, he also began working as a teaching assistant at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Tenorio’s parents are Filipino immigrants who were union letter carriers for USPS.

Thank you to NaFFAA and FWN for providing some of the names on this list. If you know of others who should be on this list, please contact us.

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