Jill Tokuda

Tokuda was born and raised in Kāneʻohe, Hawaiʻi. She went to local public schools, attending Kāneʻohe Elementary School and Governor Samuel Wilder King Intermediate School before graduating from James B. Castle High School.{{Cite web |last=Inefuku |first=Terri |date=2022-07-18 |title=HSTA recommends Jill Tokuda for Hawaii's Second Congressional District |url=https://www.hsta.org/news/recent-stories/hsta-recommends-jill-tokuda-for-hawaiis-second-congressional-district/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association |language=en-US}} She is a fourth-generation Japanese American with Okinawan heritage.{{cite web | title=Democrat Jill Tokuda Announces Candidacy for Hawaiʻi's Second Congressional District|work=Jill Tokuda - Fighting For Hawaiʻi's Families |date=May 8, 2022 |url=https://tokudaforhawaii.com/press-release-democrat-jill-tokuda-announces-candidacy-for-hawai%CA%BBis-second-congressional-district/| access-date=2023-01-03}}{{Cite web |title=Rep. Tokuda On Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Month |url=https://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2023/05/23/rep-tokuda-on-asian-american-native-hawaiian-and-pacific-islander-month/ |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=www.bigislandvideonews.com|date=May 23, 2023 }}{{Cite web |last=Boylan |first=Dan |date=2016-05-05 |title=Da Sistahs: Looking Out For Your Money |url=https://www.midweek.com/sen-jill-tokuda-and-rep-sylvia-luke/ |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=MidWeek |language=en-US}}

Tokuda earned her BA in international relations with a minor in Japanese studies from George Washington University.{{cite web |title=Senator Jill N. Tokuda |url=https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/memberpage.aspx?member=tokuda&year=2015 |website=Hawaii State Legislature |accessdate=July 23, 2019}}{{Cite web |title=Ten GW Alumni Elected to Congress {{!}} GW Today {{!}} The George Washington University |url=https://gwtoday.gwu.edu/ten-gw-alumni-elected-congress |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=GW Today |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Inefuku |first=Terri |date=2022-07-18 |title=HSTA recommends Jill Tokuda for Hawaii's Second Congressional District |url=https://www.hsta.org/news/recent-stories/hsta-recommends-jill-tokuda-for-hawaiis-second-congressional-district/ |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association |language=en-US}} While at GW, she was active in the College Democrats.{{Cite web |title=From Her Seat in Congress, Alumna Empowers Future Leaders {{!}} GW Today {{!}} The George Washington University |url=https://gwtoday.gwu.edu/her-seat-congress-alumna-empowers-future-leaders |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=GW Today |language=en}} She was a first generation college student.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-06 |title=2022 Election: Jill N. Tokuda |url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2022/07/06/election/2022-election-tokuda-jill-n/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |language=en-US}}

During the 2000 presidential election, Tokuda was listed as the Hawaii state co-chair of GoreNet.{{cite web |title=GoreNet State Co-Chairs |url=http://www.algore.com/gorenet/net_directors.html |publisher=Gore 2000 |access-date=29 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815071349/http://www.algore.com/gorenet/net_directors.html |archive-date=August 15, 2000 |date=15 August 2000 |url-status=dead}} GoreNet was a young-Americans-focused group that supported the Al Gore 2000 presidential campaign with a focus on grassroots and online organizing as well as hosting small dollar donor events.{{cite web |title=GoreNet: A Network of Young Americans Dedicated to Al Gore President |url=http://www.algore.com/gorenet/net_directors.html |publisher=Gore 2000 |access-date=29 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815054240/http://www.algore.com/gorenet/index.html |archive-date=August 15, 2000 |date=15 August 2000 |url-status=dead}}

Tokuda was elected to the Hawaiʻi State Senate in 2006, running unopposed in the September 23 Democratic primary.{{cite web |title=Primary Election 2006 – State of Hawaii – Statewide |url=http://files.hawaii.gov/elections/files/results/2006/primary/histatewide.pdf |accessdate=July 23, 2019 |website=Office of Elections}} She won the November 7 general election with 55.6% of the vote.{{cite web |title=General Election 2006 – State of Hawaii – Statewide |url=http://files.hawaii.gov/elections/files/results/2006/general/histatewide.pdf |accessdate=July 23, 2019 |website=Office of Elections}} In 2010, she was not challenged for renomination and reelected in the November 2 general election with 56.4% of the vote.{{cite web |title=Primary Election 2010 – State of Hawaii – Statewide |url=http://files.hawaii.gov/elections/files/results/2010/primary/histatewide.pdf |accessdate=July 23, 2019 |website=Office of Elections}}{{cite web |title=General Election 2010 – State of Hawaii – Statewide |url=http://files.hawaii.gov/elections/files/results/2010/general/histatewide.pdf |accessdate=July 23, 2019 |website=Office of Elections}} In 2014, Tokuda was again unopposed in the August 9 Democratic primary.{{cite web |title=Primary Election 2014 – State of Hawaii – Statewide |url=http://files.hawaii.gov/elections/files/results/2014/primary/histatewide.pdf |accessdate=July 23, 2019 |website=Office of Elections}} She won the November 4 general election with 70.8% of the vote.{{cite web |title=General Election 2014 – State of Hawaii – Statewide |url=http://files.hawaii.gov/elections/files/results/2014/general/histatewide.pdf |accessdate=July 23, 2019 |website=Office of Elections}}

While serving in the State Senate, Tokuda was Majority Whip and chaired the Ways and Means Committee overseesing the state budget.{{Cite web |last=Yang |first=Mary |date=2022-11-09 |title=Hawai'i voters put Democrat Jill Tokuda on glide path to Congress |url=https://theyappie.com/midterm-election-hawaii-jill-tokuda/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=The Yappie |language=en-US}} She was also chairman of the Labor, Education, Higher Education, and Agriculture Committee as well as the Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs. While in the legislature, she successfully fought for expanded publicly-funding of preschool in the state.

In 2018, Tokuda ran for lieutenant governor of Hawaiʻi rather than reelection to the State Senate.{{cite news |last1=Dayton |first1=Kevin |title=Tokuda announces plans to run for lieutenant governor |url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2017/08/02/breaking-news/tokuda-announces-plans-to-run-for-lieutenant-governor/ |accessdate=July 23, 2019 |agency=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |date=August 2, 2017}} She was defeated in the Democratic Primary by Josh Green who went on to win the general election.{{cite web |title=Primary Election 2018 – State of Hawaii – Statewide |url=http://files.hawaii.gov/elections/files/results/2018/primary/histatewide.pdf |website=Office of Elections |accessdate=July 23, 2019}}

In 2019, Tokuda became executive director of the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center on Maui, a position she held until her election to Congress in 2022.{{cite news |title=Former state Sen. Tokuda to lead nisei veterans center |url=https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2019/01/former-state-sen-tokuda-to-lead-nisei-veterans-center/ |accessdate=July 23, 2019 |agency=Maui News |date=January 4, 2019}} She also served on the board of the Hawaii Budget and Policy Center and as co-director of CyberHawaii, an affiliate of CyberUSA, supporting workforce development in IT/cyber security/data science. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tokuda advised the Hawaiʻi Data Collaborative and helped track the progress of federal relief spending.{{cite news |last1=Mangieri |first1=Gina |date=March 18, 2021 |title=Tracking unspent federal relief money with billions more on the way |url=https://www.khon2.com/always-investigating/tracking-unspent-federal-relief-money-with-billions-more-on-the-way/ |work=KHON2}}

{{main|2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Hawaii#District 2}}

Tokuda was elected to represent Hawaiʻi's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives on November 8, 2022. She defeated the Republican nominee 62.2% of the vote to 35.3%.{{Cite web |last1=Grube |first1=Nick |last2=Blair |first2=Chad |date=November 9, 2022 |title=Hawaii Congress Election Results: Tokuda To Be Next US Representative |url=https://www.civilbeat.org/2022/11/congress-jill-tokuda-to-be-hawaiis-next-us-representative/ |access-date=December 23, 2022 |work=Honolulu Civil Beat}}

This came after she won her primary in August 14, 2022 after her opponent Hawaiʻi State Rep. Patrick Branco became the recipient of millions in outside spending funded by FTX's Sam Bankman-Fried among others.{{Cite news |last=Astor |first=Maggie |date=2022-08-14 |title=Jill Tokuda wins a Democratic House primary in Hawaii. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/13/us/politics/jill-tokuda-hawaii.html |access-date=2023-03-26 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |date=August 12, 2022 |title=How A Surge Of Super PAC Money Upended A Hawaii Congressional Primary |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/surge-super-pac-money-upended-130000891.html |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}} She was endorsed in the primary by the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

{{main|2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Hawaii#District 2}}

Tokuda was reelected on November 6, 2024.{{Cite news |last=Spangler |first=Sam |date=November 6, 2024 |title=Rep. Tokuda wins, talks new congress and Trump |url=https://www.khon2.com/2024-elections/rep-tokuda-wins-talks-new-congress-and-trump/ |work=Khon2}} She had faced no opposition in the August Democratic primary.{{Cite web |last=Blair |first=Chad |date=2024-08-11 |title=Hawaii Incumbents In Congress Are Easily Defeating Primary Opponents |url=https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/08/hawaii-incumbents-in-congress-cruising-to-reelection/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Honolulu Civil Beat |language=en}}

Upon her election to the House of Representatives, Tokuda became the third Japanese American serving in the chamber along with Reps. Doris Matsui and Mark Takano and the fourth in the United States Congress alongside Sen. Mazie Hirono.

During the 2023 Speaker election, Tokuda voted for Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker of the United States House of Representatives on all 15 ballots.{{Cite news |last1=McCartney |first1=Allison |last2=Parlapiano |first2=Alicia |last3=Wu |first3=Ashley |last4=Zhang |first4=Christine |last5=Williams |first5=Josh |last6=Cochrane |first6=Emily |last7=Murphy |first7=John-Michael |date=2023-01-04 |title=Vote Count: McCarthy Elected House Speaker After 15 Ballots |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/01/04/us/politics/house-speaker-vote-tally.html |access-date=2023-03-07 |issn=0362-4331}} She was subsequently appointed to three key House Committees for her district: Armed Services, Agriculture, and Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-23 |title=US Rep. Jill Tokuda brings local military, agriculture issues to House committees |url=https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/the-conversation/2023-02-22/rep-jill-tokuda-brings-local-military-agriculture-issues-to-house-committees |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=Hawai'i Public Radio |language=en}}

On April 26 Tokuda delivered a speech on the house floor congratulating RuPaul's Drag Race season 15 winner Sasha Colby on her win.{{Citation |title=Jill Tokuda Praises RuPaul's Drag Race Winner Sasha Colby On The House Floor | date=April 30, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKTw5d8kae4 |access-date=2023-07-11 |language=en}} Colby is the first winner of the race to be originally from Hawaiʻi.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-28 |title=Hawaii Rep celebrates Sasha Colby's Drag Race win on House floor |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/life/hawaii-rep-jill-tokuda-celebrates-sasha-colbys-drag-race-win-on-house-floor/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=GAY TIMES |language=en-GB}}

In 2023, Tokuda was among 56 Democrats to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.{{cite web |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/118-2023/h136 | title=H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … -- House Vote #136 -- Mar 8, 2023 }}{{cite web |title=House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2023-03-08/house-votes-down-bill-directing-removal-of-troops-from-syria |website=U.S. News & World Report |date=2023-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404204512/https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2023-03-08/house-votes-down-bill-directing-removal-of-troops-from-syria |archive-date=2023-04-04 |url-status=live}}

In October 2023, following the 2023 Hawaiʻi wildfires which devastated the town of Lahaina within her district, Tokuda introduced the MAUI STRONG Act which would help small businesses and nonprofits in the area survive.{{Cite web |title=Rep. Jill Tokuda introduces MAUI STRONG Act to support Maui small businesses, nonprofits {{!}} Maui Now |url=https://mauinow.com/2023/10/28/rep-jill-tokuda-introduces-maui-strong-act-to-support-maui-small-businesses-nonprofits/ |access-date=2023-12-08 |website={{!}} Rep. Jill Tokuda introduces MAUI STRONG Act to support Maui small businesses, nonprofits}} She also introduced the Natural Disaster Tax Relief Act which would reduce tax burdens on those impacted by natural disasters.

Immediately following President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 presidential election, Tokuda endorsed Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Sunshine Kuhia |date=2024-07-21 |title=Hawaii Democratic leaders endorse Kamala Harris as presidential nominee |url=https://www.kitv.com/news/local/hawaii-democratic-leaders-endorse-kamala-harris-as-presidential-nominee/article_e7bedca0-47d0-11ef-a90f-7bcbd0b6a1c5.html |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=KITV Island News |language=en}} She went on to serve as a member of the Japanese American leadership council supporting Harris' campaign.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-08-28 |title=JAs Organize for Harris |url=https://rafu.com/2024/08/jas-organize-for-harris/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Rafu Shimpo |language=en-US}}

For the 118th Congress:{{cite web |title=Jill N. Tokuda |url=https://clerk.house.gov/members/T000487 |publisher=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives |access-date=18 May 2023}}

• Committee on Agriculture
• Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology
• Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry
• Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture
• Committee on Armed Services
• Subcommittee on Military Personnel
• Subcommittee on Readiness
• Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic

• Congressional Progressive Caucus{{Cite web |title=Progressive Caucus |url=https://weareprogressives.org/ |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=Progressive Caucus |language=en-US}}
• Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus{{Cite web |date=2023-02-25 |title=CAPAC Members Observe Day of Remembrance |url=http://rafu.com/2023/02/capac-members-observe-day-of-remembrance-3/ |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=Rafu Shimpo |language=en-US}}
• Congressional Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus, Co-chair{{Cite web |title=Tokuda speaks up for rural health reform |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/hi/hawaii/news/2023/07/29/tokuda-speaks-up-for-rural-health-reform |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=spectrumlocalnews.com |language=en}}
• Congressional Taiwan Caucus
• Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment{{cite web|title=Membership|author=|url=https://bush.house.gov/era/about/membership|format=|publisher=Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment|date=|accessdate=20 September 2024}}

Tokuda is pro-choice. In 2023, she testified in favor of legislation in Hawaiʻi that would protect doctors who perform abortions in the state from legal repercussions for providing abortions to out-of-state patients.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-16 |title=U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda attends state abortion protection bill hearing |url=https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2023-03-16/rep-jill-tokuda-attends-state-abortion-protection-bill-hearing |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=Hawai'i Public Radio |language=en}} She is a co-founder of the Patsy T. Mink PAC, named after former Rep. Patsy Mink, which works to elect pro-choice Hawaiʻi Democratic women to office.

Tokuda advocates for the increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food in food-insecure communities, a significant step for areas like Hawaiʻi, which face unique challenges in food production and access and has introduced the Grow Your Own Food Act.{{Cite web |title=Rep. Jill Tokuda introduces bill to increase quality, quantity of locally grown food {{!}} Maui Now |url=https://mauinow.com/2023/06/25/rep-jill-tokuda-introduces-bill-to-increase-quality-quantity-of-locally-grown-food/ |access-date=2023-12-08 |website={{!}} Rep. Jill Tokuda introduces bill to increase quality, quantity of locally grown food}}

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Tokuda has taken a key role as a "powerful watchdog" providing oversight to the Navy's plan to clean up Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility and its impact on Oahu's freshwater supply.{{Cite web |last=Nakaso |first=Dan |date=2023-01-28 |title=U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda will have Red Hill, Navy oversight |url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2023/01/28/hawaii-news/tokuda-will-have-red-hill-navy-oversight/ |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |language=en-US}}

Tokuda is married to Kyle Michibata, also a graduate of James B. Castle High School in Kāneʻohe, Hawaiʻi. They have two sons, Matt and Aden, who attend public schools. Their household is multi-generational. She is yonsei Japanese American and a Protestant.{{cite web |title=Faith on the Hill: The religious composition of the 118th Congress |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/ |website=Pew Research Center |access-date=6 March 2023}}

• List of Asian Americans and Pacific Islands Americans in the United States Congress

{{Notelist}}

{{reflist}}

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• [https://tokuda.house.gov Representative Jill Tokuda] official U.S. House website
• [https://tokudaforhawaii.com/ Jill Tokuda for Congress] campaign website
• {{C-SPAN|135485}}

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Category:1976 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:American politicians of Ryukyuan descent

Category:American women of Japanese descent in politics

Category:Asian American and Pacific Islander state legislators in Hawaii

Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives of Asian descent

Category:Candidates in the 2018 United States elections

Category:Democratic Party Hawaii state senators

Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Hawaii

Category:Elliott School of International Affairs alumni

Category:Female members of the United States House of Representatives

Category:Hawaii Democrats

Category:Hawaii politicians of Japanese descent

Category:Members of the United States Congress of Japanese descent

Category:Protestants from Hawaii

Category:Women state legislators in Hawaii

Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives

Category:21st-century members of the Hawaii State Legislature