Calif. candidate seeks Hmong support in MN

A California congressional candidate is seeking support from his fellow Hmong in Minnesota.

Blong Xiong traveled from Fresno to raise campaign money this weekend in St. Paul's tight-knit Hmong community.

KARE-TV reports that Xiong seeks to be the first Hmong-American to ever hold a seat on Congress. The station says the prospect was thrilling to those he met Saturday at the Hmong Village mall.

Xiong is in his second term as a Fresno city council member. He must first win a June Democratic primary in California's largely Latino 21st district, but campaign strategist Michael Fenenbock says Xiong speaks Spanish and understands Latino issues. There's no incumbent due to redistricting.

Xiong says he plans to visit Minnesota again soon. St. Paul and Fresno have two of the country's largest Hmong communities.

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Information from: KARE-TV

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