Representative Francesca Hong hosted her second annual Korean BBQ Bash to bring focus on Asian American voting efforts and reach her new constituents.

Hong’s new district now encompasses more of the north side after new legislative maps were signed into law by Gov. Tony Evers this past February. With the new maps in mind, she wanted to reach her new constituents with a more communal feel. The annual BBQ was held at Warner Park, 2930 N. Sherman Ave., where over 50 people came out to enjoy Korean foods inspired by her childhood and her former restaurant, Morris Ramen.

Hong took the time to highlight the importance of Wisconsin’s election and the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) vote. She points at the power that Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan have in the coming presidential election in a new coalition formed.

“We in Wisconsin elected Joe Biden by a margin of 20,000 votes,” Hong said. “We know that for a community like the Asian American community here, our vote is really going to be part of the margin of victory.”

Hong marks recent legislation as large strides for Asian Americans in Wisconsin. Earlier this year, Gov. Evers signed 2023 Wisconsin Act 266, which added Hmong and Asian American histories as required curriculum, and Assembly Bill 232, which proclaimed April as Hmong Heritage Month.

In attendance from St. Paul, Minnesota, State Representative Koahly Vang Her came to speak on a branching coalition between Asian American communities in midwestern states.

“We understand that the AAPI vote matters right in Wisconsin. Your largest AAPI group is Hmong,” Her said. “Oftentimes the Asian American community has been invisible. I’m ready to say, ‘We’re gonna stand up. We’re gonna be the deciding factor and we’re going to make sure the AAPI vote is heard in Wisconsin.”

Her is originally from Appleton. Her district in St. Paul makes Kamala Harris’ running mate Tim Walz her constituent. Working with Walz, she takes pride in Minnesota for the work it has accomplished for AAPI communities.

She notes that Minnesota has elected more than 10 AAPI legislators and has one of the largest AAPI caucuses in the country. Minnesota has done more than any other state for AAPI communities, Her said.

“We know that the network of people there is connected to the people in Wisconsin and connected to the people in Michigan. We know that because those are our communities, we know our communities, and so we can leverage our community to get Wisconsin and Michigan mobilized,” Her said. “We are a small community regardless of what state we’re in. That community is very unique in the way in which we are connected by our kinship.”

The current tri-state coalition, without any official name or doctrine, aims to continue to bolster legislation for Asian American communities. Her’s visit to Hong’s BBQ marks an effort to build bridges in communities as the coalition continues to work.