[VT | November 4, 2026 | Philadelphia PA]
The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) said on Nov. 4 that at least 22 Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) lawmakers are poised to join the caucus in the next Congress, the largest AAPI membership in its history. Four AAPI candidates were newly elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in the Nov. 3 midterm elections. A fifth, in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, leads in a count that is still underway.
Four newly elected AAPI House members
Each of the four set a first for the seat they won, according to CAPAC. All four are Democrats. Two won in districts redrawn this year, and one unseated an incumbent.
| Member-elect | Seat | Milestone, per CAPAC | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pia Dandiya | FL-22 | First Indian American woman to represent the district | Won |
| Dan Koh | MA-06 | First Korean and Lebanese American to represent the district | Won |
| Alicia Garrido Limtiaco | Guam (delegate) | First CHamoru woman elected to the seat | Won; pending certification |
| Richard Pan | CA-06 | First Chinese American to represent the district | Won |
| Amish Shah | AZ-01 | Would be the first Indian American to represent the district | Count ongoing |
Source: CAPAC statement, Nov. 4, 2026. All results are unofficial until certified.
Arizona’s 1st District: count ongoing
Unofficial results posted by the Arizona Secretary of State on the afternoon of Nov. 4, local time, show Democrat Amish Shah with 163,584 votes (52.54%), Republican Jay Feely with 141,196 (45.35%) and Libertarian Monica Alponte with 6,360 (2.04%). The count is continuing, and no winner has been determined. Arizona counties have until Nov. 19 to complete their canvass of returns.
The seat is open because Rep. David Schweikert (R) ran for governor rather than seek reelection. CAPAC said a Shah win would bring its AAPI membership in the next Congress to 23.
What the count of 22 covers
CAPAC is made up of AAPI members of Congress and non-AAPI associate members who represent large AAPI constituencies or work on related issues. The caucus reported 86 members in the 119th Congress as of Oct. 26. The figure of at least 22 refers only to AAPI lawmakers expected to join CAPAC in the next Congress.
The four members-elect, including Guam’s delegate, are part of that count. CAPAC’s Nov. 4 statement did not list the 22 lawmakers by name.
Guam’s delegate can introduce legislation and vote in committee but does not vote on final passage of bills on the House floor.
CAPAC’s statement
Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), who chairs CAPAC, said in the caucus statement: “Last night’s election was a resounding repudiation of President Trump and his failed policies that put the safety, security, and civil rights of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders at risk. It also marked a historic step forward for AAPI representation, with at least 22 AAPI Members poised to join CAPAC next year—the largest number in our nation’s history.”
Meng said she looked forward to working with colleagues to address the needs of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities and to ensure their voices are heard.
Two departing members
The statement also thanked two Indian American members who will leave the House in January. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) lost the March 17 Democratic primary for Illinois’ open U.S. Senate seat to Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) lost the August Democratic primary in Michigan’s 13th District to Donavan McKinney.
“They have led the fight against anti-South Asian hate, challenged the Trump administration’s cruel immigration policies, and demanded accountability for its actions,” Meng said.
Profiles
Pia Dandiya (FL-22). Raised in Palm Beach County by parents who immigrated from India, Dandiya studied government at Harvard University. She taught school and became the founding principal of a high school in Harlem, New York. She was named a White House Fellow in 2020, working at the Domestic Policy Council and the U.S. Department of Education across two administrations, and later led public-sector work at Apple focused on education, health care and government services. She first ran against Rep. Brian Mast in the 21st District before shifting to the new 22nd District after Florida redrew its congressional map. She defeated Republican Casey Askar, who was endorsed by President Trump, in a campaign centered on affordability. She will be the first South Asian American to represent Florida in Congress.
Dan Koh (MA-06). Koh served as chief of staff to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, followed Walsh to the U.S. Department of Labor as chief of staff, and later served in the White House as deputy assistant to the president and deputy director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. He narrowly lost the 2018 Democratic primary in Massachusetts’ 3rd District. This year he won the Democratic primary and defeated Republican Micah Quinney Jones. He succeeds Rep. Seth Moulton, who gave up the seat to run for the U.S. Senate. The district covers the North Shore.
Alicia Garrido Limtiaco (Guam). A lawyer, Limtiaco previously served as Guam’s attorney general and as a U.S. attorney. She entered the race in February 2026. Unofficial results show her with 15,645 votes to 14,983 for Moylan, who had held the seat since 2023.
Richard Pan (CA-06). A pediatrician and former professor at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Pan served in the California State Assembly from 2010 and the State Senate from 2014 to 2022. He drew national attention for authoring California’s 2015 school vaccination law and chaired the California Asian American & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus from 2020 to 2022. He ran for mayor of Sacramento in 2024 and did not advance from the primary. He defeated Rep. Kevin Kiley, who left the Republican Party in March and ran as an independent. The redrawn 6th District includes northern Sacramento, Natomas, West Sacramento, Roseville, Rocklin and Citrus Heights.
Amish Shah (AZ-01). An emergency room physician, Shah served in the Arizona House of Representatives from 2019 to 2024 and ran unsuccessfully against Schweikert for this seat in 2024. Feely, a former NFL kicker, was endorsed by President Trump. The district includes parts of Phoenix and Scottsdale.
