As the countdown to the California primary election on June 2 approaches, more than 1.5 million voters have already returned their mail-in ballots as of Friday, May 22. The Chinese community is actively participating in the elections, hoping to bring about change.
In a campaign event on Wednesday, Liu Longzhu, a candidate for the 49th district State Assembly, and a Chinese-American lawyer from Southern California, stated that California is at a critical turning point, with many people expressing dissatisfaction with current policies on education, community safety, and high taxes.
California has long held the top spot in the nation for gas prices, with the average price of regular gasoline exceeding $6 per gallon for multiple weeks. Additionally, Californians bear a heavy tax burden, with personal income tax rates reaching as high as 13.3%.
Liu Longzhu pledged that if elected, he will work to improve the lives of residents by pushing for a reduction in gas prices to below $3 per gallon, making public universities tuition-free, exempting the first $100,000 of annual income from state income tax, exempting seniors aged 60 and above from property taxes, and focusing on fighting crime and opposing underage gender reassignment.
Economist Jing Youlun, who attended the luncheon, expressed that for Chinese families in California, the economy is not just a headline but something that affects everyday activities like commuting, grocery shopping, mortgage payments, insurance, and providing for children. “Costs of living such as gas prices, inflation, and insurance premiums are the daily politics felt by Chinese families.”
Jing Youlun hopes that elected officials can create a more business-friendly environment for small enterprises. “For Chinese small business owners, what truly matters is reducing unnecessary regulations, stabilizing energy prices, and lowering compliance burdens, allowing family businesses to continue operating and hiring.”
A woman who has been in the US for 38 years stated that her voting standard has never been based on party affiliation, but rather on whether candidates truly care about “this country and the well-being of its people.”
She pointed out the significant changes in the US in recent years, such as confusion about gender identity and encouragement of children to undergo gender reassignment. She emphasized her diligence in paying taxes and working hard, contrasting it with undocumented immigrants who receive benefits without ever working a day. She expressed a strong desire for change in these aspects.
Liu Longzhu emphasized that Chinese Americans in the US should “abide by the law and put down roots,” love America, and cherish the traditional values upheld over the past two hundred years to truly achieve the “American Dream.”
The fundraising event was attended by numerous incumbent elected officials, community leaders, business professionals, and community members, including former Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, the first Chinese-American female lawyer in the US Betty Chu, Southern California lawyer Deng Hong, Orange County Lincoln Club Executive Director Seth Morrison, 28th District California Congressional candidate April A. Verlato, 38th District California Congressional candidate Qin Zhenguo, City Councilor Margaret Clark from Rosemead, City Councilor Deng Jiayou from Diamond Bar, former Mayor of Diamond Bar Zhang Wenbin, and former Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David Sherman Milton.