California’s first Asian lieutenant governor traces roots to esteemed family in China

Amid a national Democratic wave in the midterm elections, a California Democrat has made history as the first Asian-American elected to the state’s second-highest executive office, with roots tracing back to a prominent military and political clan in China.

Fiona Ma, 60, a Chinese-American and the state’s current treasurer, was elected lieutenant governor, marking a milestone for Asian-American representation in California politics.

“I am deeply humbled and honoured to be elected California’s next lieutenant governor,” Ma said in a statement to the South China Morning Post. “Breaking another bamboo ceiling!”

Born in New York to Chinese immigrant parents, Ma began her political career in San Francisco, where she was elected to the Board of Supervisors. She later moved into state-level politics, holding several positions before being elected lieutenant governor.

Ma’s family background has also drawn considerable attention in Chinese-language media and online communities, with her ancestry tracing back to a prominent military and political family in Yunnan province in southwestern China in the early 20th century.

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According to Chinese-language accounts, Ma is the granddaughter of Ma Zhen, a lieutenant general in the Republic of China Army who became Kunming’s first mayor in 1928.

His two brothers also served as generals. The three brothers became known for their military contributions during the Sino-Japanese War, earning the family the reputation of having “three generals under one roof”.

Ma said she learned about her grandfather’s history as Kunming’s mayor only later in life, saying in an interview that she never met him because her grandparents had died long before.

Her grandfather continued to hold several senior military and administrative positions in Yunnan before he moved to Hong Kong in 1949 and died in 1963, three years before Ma was born. His former residence, a century-old courtyard in Kunming, has been preserved as a protected heritage site and now serves as a cultural venue.

Ma visited the family site in Kunming in 2023 with her father, according to Chinese-language media reports. Ma is also a frequent guest at official functions at the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco, including diplomatic receptions and cultural events.

She described her parents’ immigrant journey as central to her own political story. The eldest daughter of Chinese immigrants who arrived in the United States with just US$3,000 and a dream, she said her parents instilled in her the values of hard work, education, perseverance and giving back, adding that their belief in the American dream had helped her achieve her own California dream.

She told SCMP the milestone honours generations of Asian-Americans who broke barriers and paved the way for those who followed.

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“I hope this victory inspires every young person, especially young girls and children of immigrants, to dream big, work hard and never let anyone tell them what they cannot achieve,” she said.