Community leader and congressional candidate Wendy Huang held a fundraising event on March 8th in Union City that attracted supporters from different ethnicities and across party lines, showing their support for her election campaign.
Wendy Huang, who immigrated to the United States from Taiwan in 1984, has been a resident of Union City for nearly 28 years. She previously served as the operations director at a Silicon Valley high-tech company and became a full-time mother in 2007. In early 2024, she ran for the City Council in Union City’s first district, actively engaging in public affairs and community service.
Currently, she is running for California’s 14th Congressional District representing the Republican Party. Huang mentioned that her motivation for running again is to ensure that Asian Americans, especially Asian women, have a platform to voice their concerns in public affairs. She identified issues like public safety, crime, cost of living, and livability as challenges the community still faces, particularly affecting the growth of the next generation. Therefore, she hopes to continue advocating for the people through her candidacy.
She has outlined three main policy priorities, including enhancing public safety and the rule of law, promoting economic development and employment, and safeguarding education and parental rights. She also advocates for constitutional education for public officials to ensure that government actions genuinely uphold citizens’ rights.
She urges voters to actively participate in local politics, emphasizing that freedom requires the collective guardianship of the people. She pointed out the importance of the June 2nd election, as it will determine whether elected officials represent special interest groups or the voice of the people.
During the event, several community members took turns to express their support. Former Vice Mayor of Union City and current chair of the Union City Chamber of Commerce, Jim Navarro, despite being a Democrat himself, commended Huang for her honesty, integrity, and effectiveness. He called on the public to support her and assist in fundraising for her campaign.
Edward Escobar, the founder of the Coalition for Community Engagement and Citizens United Movement, highlighted Huang’s long-term focus on public safety and her continuous efforts within the community, regardless of her Republican affiliation. He urged people to vote actively, understand the candidates’ stances, and elect representatives with common sense, judgment, and the ability to deliver results.
Founder of Asians Unite, Tuan Ngo, praised Huang for her consistent advocacy for public safety and grassroots community issues, expressing gratitude for her willingness to speak up for the community and believing she will help safeguard community safety, promote effective policies, and ensure taxpayers’ funds are well-utilized.
Regional leader of the Settlement Project and host of the podcast “Unstoppable Heart to Heart,” Michael Kellet, voiced his full support for Huang. He highlighted her values in family and public service, integrity, and public awareness, hoping her candidacy will contribute to society. Kellet, while identifying with conservative principles, also stressed the importance of respecting diverse viewpoints and caring for the vulnerable in society, values he sees reflected in Huang’s balanced stance.
In addition to community representatives, Brenda Grisham, who is running for mayor of Oakland, attended the event to show her support. Grisham praised Huang for her long-standing dedication to the community, whether advocating for crime victims or participating in community activities, describing her as a genuinely caring political figure.
Grisham, also co-founder of the SAFE organization, which was involved in the removal of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, emphasized her support for Huang due to their shared values and vision for the next generation, hoping that through public decision-making, Huang will bring positive changes to the community.
At the event, Huang’s husband expressed his support, noting that in the past few years, he has witnessed her passion for public service, recognizing that besides ability and hard work, enthusiasm for the right cause is the driving force behind her continuous efforts.
Huang expressed gratitude for her family’s support, acknowledging the challenges she has faced in past elections but expressing her determination to give a voice to minority communities, especially the Asian community, on issues like public safety to inspire hope in more people.
California’s 14th Congressional District is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, covering various cities in San Mateo County and parts of the southern areas of San Francisco, with a diverse ethnic makeup and a relatively high proportion of Asian populations.