Nevada Assemblymember Erica Mosca (left) and Hawaii House candidate Tess Abalos | Photos from Ballotpedia, ballotready.org
LOS ANGELES – As voters prepare to head to the polls on Nov. 3, Filipino American candidates are seeking public office in races spanning state legislatures, city councils and local school boards, highlighting the community’s growing presence in electoral politics.
Among them are Nevada Assemblymember Erica Mosca, a Democrat seeking re-election to represent District 14, and Tess Abalos, a Republican seeking a seat in the Hawaii House of Representatives for District 29.
Their candidacies reflect the broader pursuit of Filipino American representation in elected office, from incumbent state legislators running for reelection to first-time candidates vying for public office.
According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 4.1 million Filipino Americans lived in the United States in 2022, accounting for 17% of the nation’s Asian American population. About 1.6 million, or 38%, lived in California, while Hawaii and Texas also had sizable Filipino American communities.
Erica Mosca (Nevada)
Mosca, the first Filipina elected to the Nevada Legislature, is seeking another term in the Nevada State Assembly, representing District 14 in Clark County. First elected in November 2022, she chairs the Assembly’s Legislative Operations and Elections Committee and serves on the Education and Ways and Means committees.
Born in San Diego, California, Mosca is the daughter of a Filipino immigrant. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston University, a master’s degree in education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and an additional master’s degree from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.
Before entering the Legislature, Mosca worked as an educator and founded Leaders in Training, a nonprofit organization focused on helping students pursue educational opportunities and become leaders in their communities.
Her legislative work has included measures addressing education, election communications, housing, health care and economic development. During the 2025 legislative session, she chaired the committee overseeing legislative operations and elections.
Mosca advanced to the Nov. 3 general election after the Democratic primary for District 14 was canceled.
Tess Abalos (Hawaii)
In Hawaii, Abalos is running as a Republican for the state House seat representing District 29, which includes Kalihi Valley and part of the Liliha-ʻĀlewa area on Oʻahu. She advanced from the Aug. 8 Republican primary and will face Democratic incumbent Ikaika Hussey in the general election.
Raised in Kalihi, Abalos has described her family’s history as a foundation for her commitment to public service. Her great-grandfather came to Hawaii as a sakada, or plantation worker. She has cited his perseverance, faith and dedication to family as formative influences.
Abalos is a business owner, community advocate and outreach coordinator who founded JESUS n’ ALOHA Marketplace and Green Citrus Clean. She holds a master’s degree in Christian ministry and has experience in counseling, life coaching, business mentoring and community outreach.
Her campaign platform emphasizes government transparency, economic relief, public safety and constituent service. She has pledged to support small businesses, address Hawaii’s high cost of living, protect older residents and children, and promote accountable government spending.
Abalos’ candidacy places a Republican Filipino American woman in a race against a Democratic incumbent, reflecting the range of political affiliations among Filipino Americans seeking elected office.
California candidates
Rob Bonta, Jessica Caloza, Mark Pulido | Photos from State of California Dept. of Justice, Asmdc.org, cerritos.gov
California, home to the nation’s largest Filipino American population, has an extensive field of candidates seeking office in November.
You may like: Meet the Filipino American candidates in California’s Nov. 3 elections
Among the Filipino American candidates identified for the 2026 election are Rob Bonta, the Democratic state attorney general seeking re-election; Mark Pulido, running for the 67th Assembly District; and Jessica Caloza, seeking re-election to the 52nd Assembly District.
Other Filipino American candidates are running for local offices across Southern and Northern California. They include Melissa Ramoso for Artesia City Council; Stephanie Loredo for the Culver City Unified School District; Ollie Cantos and Letty Lopez-Viado for West Covina City Council; Arleen Bocatija Rojas for Carson City Council, District 4; Phil Bacerra for Santa Ana City Council, Ward 4; Byron Salvatierra for Irvine City Council; Ditas Yamane for National City Council, District 3; Juslyn Manalo and Mark Nagales for the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, District 5; Rod Daus-Magbual and Tony Bayudan for Daly City Council; and Gabe Quinto for El Cerrito City Council.
These candidacies underscore Filipino Americans’ participation in electoral contests at multiple levels of government. California’s certified general election ballot includes statewide and legislative races, while county election offices provide information on local contests.
The potential electoral influence of Filipino Americans is substantial, although voter eligibility, registration and turnout are distinct measures.
AAPI Data, drawing on US Census Bureau American Community Survey figures, estimates that more than 2.14 million Filipino American adults were eligible to vote based on 2022 data. California accounted for approximately 933,000 eligible voters, followed by Hawaii with about 147,000 and Nevada with nearly 109,300.
Fil-Am voters
A definitive, comparable national count of registered Filipino American voters is not readily available because voter-registration data are not uniformly reported by detailed ethnic group across states. The eligible-voter estimate, therefore, should not be treated as a registration total.
Turnout estimates show that Filipino American participation varied between the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections. AAPI Data reported that an estimated 54% of eligible Filipino American voters cast ballots in 2020, rising to 63% in 2024. These figures represent estimated turnout, not the proportion of all Filipino Americans who are registered or the percentage who voted for a particular candidate.
Survey findings also suggest that Filipino American voters do not constitute a politically uniform bloc. AAPI Data’s 2024 election analysis found that 45% of Filipino American voters identified as Democrats or leaned Democratic, while 28% identified as Republicans or leaned Republican. Thirty percent identified as independents, including some who also leaned toward a major party. These figures reflect survey responses, not official election results or predictions of how the community will vote in 2026.
For Mosca and Abalos, the Nov. 3 election represents two different paths: one seeking another term in office, the other hoping to win her first.
Their campaigns, alongside those of Filipino American candidates across California and other states, reflect the community’s participation in the political process at both state and local levels.
Voters in their respective districts will determine the outcome of these races on Nov. 3. The results will offer a clearer picture of Filipino American representation in elected office across the country.
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