Ram Villivalam, chair
In 2019, Sen. Ram Villivalam became the first Asian American elected to the Illinois State Senate and the first Indian American elected to the Illinois General Assembly. He currently chairs the state’s Transportation Committee and also sits on the Energy and Public Utilities, Healthcare Access and Availability, Human Rights, Licensed Activities, and Pensions Committees. He is the Chair of the Asian American Caucus.
Holly Kim, vice chair
First elected Lake County Treasurer in 2018, Holly Kim increased the county’s investment income by nearly $10 million during her first term, as well as improving the accessibility of the county’s financial resources by launching eBills and online support tickets. She aims to prioritize constituent engagement and embrace new technologies, hosting over 50 community sessions across Lake County during her first term in office and becoming one of the first Illinois political candidates to accept campaign donations in the form of cryptocurrency. She is the Vice Chair of the Asian American Caucus.
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz was first elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 2019 and represents the 17th District. She is also the chair of the state house’s Judiciary Civil Committee, the vice-chair of the Immigration & Human Rights and Education committees, and a member of the Judiciary Criminal and Higher Education committees.
Josina Morita
In 2016, Josina Morita became the first Asian American elected to a countywide board in Cook County when she was elected commissioner for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. In 2022, she made history again when she was elected 13th District Cook County Commissioner, making her the first Asian American woman to serve on the Cook County Board. She is a founding member of the AAC, the vice-chair of the Cook County Board Environment and Sustainability Committee, and a member of 15 other committees, including criminal justice, finance, and workers’ compensation.
Theresa Mah
In 2016, Theresa Mah made history as the first Asian American elected to the Illinois General Assembly. She represents the 24th District and sits on eight state committees, including the committees on K-12 Education Appropriations, Economic Opportunity & Equity, and Public Health. During her first two terms, Rep. Mah has successfully passed legislation in the areas of civil rights, consumer protection, language access, and immigrant rights.
Sharon Chung
In 2022, Sharon Chung became the first Korean American elected to the General Assembly, as well as the first Democrat to represent Bloomington-Normal in the House of Representatives since 1982. She sits on the House Committees for Agriculture & Conservation, Counties & Townships, Health Care Licenses, and Higher Education.
Nabeela Syed
At 23, Nabeela Syed made history as the youngest member and one of the first-ever Muslim and South Asian members elected to the Illinois General Assembly in the 2022 midterms. Representing the 51st District, she sits on the Health & Human Services Appropriations, Child Care Access & Early Childhood, Cities & Villages, Economic Opportunity & Equity, and Prescription Drug Affordability Committees.
Kevin Olickal
In the 2022 midterm elections, Kevin Olickal became one of the first South Asian members elected to the state House of Representatives. Representing the 16th District, he sits on eight committees, including the Judiciary Criminal, Labor & Commerce, and Job Growth & Workforce Development Committees.
Hoan Huynh
The first Vietnamese American and refugee to serve in the Illinois General Assembly, Hoan Huynh was elected in 2022 and represents the 13th District. He sits on the General Service and Health & Human Services Appropriations Committees, the Health Care Availability & Access Committee, the Immigration & Human Rights Committee, the Housing Committee, and the Transportation: Regulations, Roads & Bridges Committee.
Abdelnasser Rashid
in 2023, Abdelnasser Rashid became the first Palestinian American and one of the first Muslim members of the Illinois General Assembly. Representing the 21st District, he sits on eight committees, including the Committees on Housing, Economic Opportunity & Equity, and Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, & IT.
Janet Yang Rohr
Janet Yang Rohr represents Illinois' 41st House District, serving the Naperville, Bolingbrook, and Warrenville communities. She began her first term in January 2021 and is currently serving her second term in the 103rd General Assembly. She is a member of the Elementary & Secondary Education and Higher Appropriations Committees, the School Curriculum Policy and Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools Elementary and Secondary Education Committees, and the Health Care Availability & Access, Personnel & Pensions, and Small Business, Tech Innovation & Entrepreneurship Committees.
Nicole Lee
In 2022, Nicole Lee became the first ever Asian American woman to serve on Chicago’s City Council and the first Chinese American alderperson to represent the city’s Chinatown community. Lee aims to advocate for safer neighborhoods, stronger schools and improved infrastructure and transportation for the residents of the 11th Ward.
Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth
In 2023, Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth became the first queer Asian American and Filipina elected to Chicago’s City Council, as well as the first queer woman of color to represent the 48th Ward. She is a member of both the AAC and the council’s LGBTQ caucus, and ran on a platform centering community care, which upheld health, housing, and safety as human rights.