Congratulations again to all our progressive Asian American winners yesterday.  There are a lot of news reports on each of the races. Here are some of the top reports on Margaret Chin who will be representing New York City Council District 1.

Chin Wins City Council Primary (Tribeca Tribune)

After losing three previous bids for a City Council seat, the fourth campaign was the charm for Margaret Chin, who emerged victorious Tuesday night in the Democratic primary. Chin beat two-term incumbent Alan Gerson by about 1,000 votes (39 percent to Gerson's 30 percent) in a meager voter turnout.

Only about 10,500 ballots were cast for all five candidates in the sprawling and diverse 1^st Council District, which encompasses Lower Manhattan from the Battery to Greenwich Village, and from river to river.

The final tally was:  Margaret Chin 4,541; Alan Gerson 3,520; PJ Kim 1,927; Pete Gleason 1,293; Arthur Gregory 235.

Chin, who emigrated as a child from Hong Kong and grew up in Chinatown, insisted throughout the campaign that she did not just represent Chinatown. Nevertheless she called her victory a “big moment” for the Chinese community. She is the first Chinese-American to represent the district, which includes Chinatown, and the first female Chinese-American to be elected to the City Council.

“It is very significant, especially for a lot of the old-timers who have been here and feel that they need a voice,” she said. “And a lot of times, because of the language and culture, they feel that they are not being heard.”

Margaret Chin Trounces Gerson - Makes History in Chinatwon (The Lo-Down)

The significance of the moment was not lost on Chin last night, who finally prevailed after seeking the District 1 Council seat four times. For the first time, Chinatown will be represented by an Asian. Chin will be the only Asian woman on the City Council. While vowing to represent all of Lower Manhattan, she acknowledged that history had been made. The achievement was a long time in the making. Almost 20 years ago, Council districts were redrawn, with the idea that the neighborhood should have a voice in City government.

"We Showed Them!" Chin topples Gerson (The Villager)

Around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night, a beaming Chin greeted a rollicking, roaring crowd of 100 at her victory party at Golden Unicorn restaurant in Chinatown and she could barely stop smiling long enough to speak.

“We overcome so many obstacles, but the final result is victory,” she said.

Chin, the first Chinese person to ever represent Chinatown, took nearly 40 percent (4,541 votes) in a primary that drew 11,516 people to the polls, according to unofficial returns that will take about a week to certify. Gerson came in second with 3,520 votes (31 percent), while newcomer PJ Kim received 1,927 votes (17 percent), Pete Gleason received 1,293 votes (11 percent) and Arthur Gregory got 235 votes (2 percent).

Chin and several of her volunteers said Chinese representation for the Council district containing Chinatown is long overdue.

“For it to finally happen, it is very significant,” Chin said, adding that the older Chinese population, especially, felt that they were not being heard because of language and cultural barriers.

As Chin spoke, one supporter called out in Chinese that she was breaking a bad spell cast on the neighborhood.

“No, no spell,” Chin said, laughing. “We’re waking up the community.”

Alex Hing, 63, a hotel worker in Chinatown, took the mic to say that this election year was supposed to be all about change, until the City Council extended term limits for themselves and the mayor. As a result, many incumbents coasted into a third term, but not Gerson.

“We showed them!” Chin said.

Chin gave her speech in both Chinese and English, with the Chinese sections getting louder applause from the mostly Asian crowd.