In Maryland, State Delegate Chao Wu, a Chinese American, was targeted by fellow Republican Delegates Mark Fisher and Brian Chisholm over different political stances on an AI bill proposed by Wu.
In a 13-minute podcast video in May, the pair questioned Wu's political loyalties solely on the basis of his birthplace in China, mocked his accent, repeatedly used a derogatory term, and accused him of being a spy for China.
In Texas, State Representative Gene Wu's race and birthplace have often been targets of attacks by his political opponents. Grand Old Party, or GOP State Senator Mayes Middleton once accused Wu of "fighting to put China first and Texas second" when Wu led Texas Democratic lawmakers to fight against GOP lawmakers' efforts to redraw Texas' congressional map.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott even filed a lawsuit to remove Wu from the legislative body over the redistricting fight, a move the Supreme Court of Texas rejected.
The geopolitical tensions between China and the US have been shaping the lives of Asian American communities in the US. Occurrences of political criticism descending into racialized suspicion and conspiracy framing, particularly for Asian Americans, are increasingly frequent.
