The Korea Daily’s endorsement of numerous Korean American candidates has seen a substantial number of them advance into legislative positions, while the newspaper’s stance on key propositions concerning the public interest aligned closely with the majority opinion among California residents.
Despite being a minority media outlet, the Korea Daily has garnered praise for its contributions to increasing political influence and voter turnout within the Korean American community.
In the House of Representatives, Rep. Young Kim (40th District) has secured a third-term victory. Likewise, Rep. Michelle Steel (45th District) leads with 51.2% as of November 8, according to data from the Orange County and LA County election offices.
Dave Min (47th District), who previously served in the California Senate and is now running for Congress, is trailing his Republican opponent by 0.4% but with approximately 300,000 ballots yet to be counted.
In the California State Senate race for the 37th District, former State Assemblyman Steven Choi is ahead with 51.9%. Despite the district’s majority of Democratic voters, Choi’s slight lead is considered a highly positive indicator by his campaign.
In the closely watched Los Angeles County District Attorney race, Nathan Hochman, supported by the Korea Daily, has claimed an early victory with a decisive lead.
David Kim (34th District), State Assembly candidate John Yi (54th District), and LA City Council candidate Grace Yoo (10th District) are still awaiting final results.
Adam Schiff, another candidate endorsed by the Korea Daily, has officially secured a seat in the U.S. Senate. Sharon Quirk-Silva, the incumbent representative for the California Assembly’s 67th District, which includes Fullerton, has also won re-election.
The Korea Daily’s endorsement committee thoughtfully selected candidates in alignment with public sentiment, with most of these candidates either winning or nearing victory.
Sim Gi-hoon, a 62-year-old resident of Los Angeles, shared, “At first, it was unusual for a Korean media outlet to endorse candidates, but over time, I’ve seen the value in voicing opinions that support Korean American interests. I hope they continue broadening this approach to apply greater pressure on those who overlook our community.”
An organization leader, who requested anonymity, added, “By taking principled stances on propositions without leaning toward either party, the Korea Daily encouraged more Korean Americans to vote. Proposition 33, for instance, was a complex issue for tenants and landlords alike, but prioritizing business survival by opposing it was a sound decision.”
As of November 7, 61.5% of voters opposed Proposition 33, aimed at expanding rent control in local government agencies, with 38.5% in favor. In LA County, opposition stood at 57.2% versus 42.9%. Proposition 36, which seeks to strengthen penalties for petty crime and drug sales, received 70.4% support statewide, aligning with the Korea Daily’s endorsement, while 66.2% in LA County approved it.
Meanwhile, leading Korean American candidates continue to maintain close races or narrow leads in federal and state legislative contests as of November 7.
BY BRIAN CHOI, YOUNGNAM KIM [ichoi@koreadaily.com]
