For 13 years, the district that has one of the highest concentrations of Hispanic residence never had a Hispanic councilmember to call their own. District 7 of San Jose City composes of about 48% Hispanic and 38% Asian, and yet a Vietnamese candidate has always won in the last 4 elections.
Hispanic voters flexed their muscle in 2016 and it showed in the D8 election result. Sylvia Arenas, a relative unknown, defeated the well known Jimmy Nguyen who had the endorsement of SVO and former Vice Mayor Rose Herrera. D8 is 53% Asian and 25% Hispanic. But the Donald Trump Effect drove extremely high turnout of Hispanic voters and helped Sylvia won the race by 97 votes.
Currently, the San Jose City Council has 4 Hispanic councilmembers and with Esparza, history will be made as this would be the first time we have a Hispanic majority-minority City Council.
The rise of Hispanic political power is now reaching its potential in San Jose where Hispanic is about 33% of the total population. The Hispanic population is diverse and concentrated in D5 (62%), D3(52%) and D7(48%).
For Vietnamese-American community, it will take another 6 years at least before any Vietnamese candidate to have a chance in D7 and D8.
For District 4, incumbent Councilmember Lan Diep is safe since D4 has 61% Asian.
Hispanic voters flexed their muscle in 2016 and it showed in the D8 election result. Sylvia Arenas, a relative unknown, defeated the well known Jimmy Nguyen who had the endorsement of SVO and former Vice Mayor Rose Herrera. D8 is 53% Asian and 25% Hispanic. But the Donald Trump Effect drove extremely high turnout of Hispanic voters and helped Sylvia won the race by 97 votes.
Currently, the San Jose City Council has 4 Hispanic councilmembers and with Esparza, history will be made as this would be the first time we have a Hispanic majority-minority City Council.
The rise of Hispanic political power is now reaching its potential in San Jose where Hispanic is about 33% of the total population. The Hispanic population is diverse and concentrated in D5 (62%), D3(52%) and D7(48%).
For Vietnamese-American community, it will take another 6 years at least before any Vietnamese candidate to have a chance in D7 and D8.
For District 4, incumbent Councilmember Lan Diep is safe since D4 has 61% Asian.
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