2012 is a landmark year because a record number of Asian American candidates are on the ballot around the country. The following is a list of Asian American candidates running for Congressional and Senate seats this year. (Please let me know if I’ve missed any!)

I’ll update this table as winners are announced.

Sen/Congress District APIA Candidate Party Opponent Party Winner CA Congress CD27 Judy Chu* D Jack Orswell R Chu CA Congress CD17 Michael Honda* D Evelyn Li (also APIA) R Honda CA Congress CD6 Doris Matsui* D Joseph McCray R Matsui CA Congress CD7 Ami Bera D Dan Lungren R -too close- CA Congress CD9 Ranjit “Ricky” Gill R Jerry McNerney* D McNerney CA Congress CD22 Otto Lee D Devin Nunes R Nunes CA Congress CD39 Jay Chen D Ed Royce R Royce CA Congress CD41 Mark Takano D John F Tavaglione R Takano CA Congress CD45 Sukhee Kang D John Campbell R Campbell HI Senate Mazie Hirono D Linda Lingle R Hirono HI Congress CD1 Colleen Hanabusa* D Charles Djou (also APIA) R Hanabusa HI Congress CD2 Tulsi Gabbard D Kawika Crowley R Gabbard IL Congress CD8 Tammy Duckworth D Joe Walsh R Duckworth MI Congress CD11 Syed Taj D Kerry Bentivolio R Bentivolio NJ Congress CD7 Upendra Chivukula D Leonard Lance* R Lance NY Congress CD6 Grace Meng D Daniel Halloran R Meng NY Congress CD23 Nate Shinagawa D Tom Reed R Reed NY Congress CD10 Michael Chan R Jerrold Nadler* D Nadler PA Congress CD6 Manan Trivedi D Jim Gerlach* R Gerlach

* — indicates incumbent

Of particular interest is Mazie Hirono’s Senate race in Hawaii. She is competing for the seat vacated by the retiring Senator Daniel Akaka. If she wins, Hirono will be the first Asian American woman to serve in the U.S. Senate.