SAINT PAUL – Today, the Minnesota Asian Pacific (MAP) legislative caucus elected State Representative Tou Xiong (DFL - Maplewood) and State Representative Kaohly Her (DFL - St. Paul) to serve as its new chair and vice chair, respectively. Their terms begin today and will run through the 2021 - 2022 legislative session.
“I am deeply honored to have been elected by my colleagues to serve as the MAP Caucus Chair, especially during this critical time of unprecedented economic and health disparities for communities of color,” said Chair Tou Xiong, a two-term legislator and State Representative representing the East Metro suburbs of Maplewood, Woodbury, Oakdale, and Landfall. “My colleague and former Chair, Representative Samantha Vang (DFL - Brooklyn Center) was a powerful voice on behalf of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans and I look forward to building on her work and pursuing greater representation in government.”
Representative Tou Xiong is a non-profit Executive Director and formerly served as a city council member for the city of Maplewood before joining the Minnesota state legislature in 2019. He will be the second Chair for the newly created MAP Caucus that was formed in 2019. Representative Kaohly Her, also currently the DFL Majority Whip will continue on in her role as the Vice Chair for the caucus.
The MAP Caucus represents and advocates for the interests of the diverse API communities throughout Minnesota. It seeks to increase Asian Pacific Islander advocacy, participation, and representation in all levels of government.
The current members of the MAP Caucus include Chair Rep. Tou Xiong (53A), Vice Chair Rep. Kaohly Her (64A), Senator Foung Hawj (67), Rep. Samantha Vang (40B), and Rep. Jay Xiong (67B).