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Fil-Am candidates seek historic wins in New York primary
NEW YORK - Two Filipino Americans are on the ballot in New York's Democratic primary election, seeking seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and the New York State Senate. If elected, they could add another chapter to the growing history of Filipino American representation in American politics.
In Manhattan, New York City, former Republican attorney and prominent critic of U.S. President Donald Trump, George Conway, is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York's 12th Congressional District.
Conway is the son of a Filipina mother who was an organic chemist from the Philippines while his father, an electrical engineer, worked for defense contractor Raytheon.
George was previously married to Kellyanne Conway, a former senior White House official during Trump's first administration.
Conway grew up outside Boston and graduated from Marlborough High School in Marlborough, Massachusetts.
In 1984, he graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in biochemistry. Three years later, he earned his Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School, where he served as an editor of the Yale Law Journal and was president of the law school's chapter of the Federalist Society.
As a longtime attorney, Conway says he wants to protect constitutional norms, strengthen democratic institutions, and ensure that no president is above the law. His campaign slogan emphasizes restoring the rule of law in government.
Conway presents himself as a "battle-tested fighter" who spent years publicly opposing Trump and believes his legal background makes him uniquely qualified to challenge the administration in Congress.
Conway is running against Alex Bores, Micah Lasher, and Jack Schlossberg in the Democratic primary.
Steven Raga, New York State Senate
In Queens, New York, incumbent Assemblymember Steven Raga is seeking election to the New York State Senate.
Born and raised in Queens to Filipino immigrant parents, Raga made history in 2022 as the first Filipino American elected to the New York State Legislature.
He grew up in Woodside and has long been active in community advocacy and public service throughout Western Queens.
Housing insecurity played a major role in shaping his political outlook. Raised by a single mother in Queens, Raga said his family experienced multiple evictions while he was growing up.
Labor issues have remained central to his campaign. Raga's mother was a Teamster, and he describes himself as a candidate for working-class families. His campaign has received support from more than 20 labor unions, as well as immigrant delivery workers and domestic workers.
As the child of immigrants whose family experienced separation, Raga said immigrant justice remains a deeply personal issue.
Raga is running against Palestinian American community organizer Aber Kawas, who has been endorsed by Zohran Mamdani.
If elected, Raga would become the first Filipino American to serve in the New York State Senate.
The Democratic primary election will be held on June 23, with voters selecting their party's nominees for congressional and state legislative races across New York. — BAP, GMA News
