Meet Adrian Tam, the Gay Man Who Beat a 'Proud Boys' Leader in Hawaii's Election
Adrian Tam was not worried for himself while out on the campaign trail in Hawaii, he said. Instead, he was concerned for the safety of his volunteers and supporters, wearing shirts and face masks bearing his name, because his opponent was Nick Ochs, the leader of a Hawaii chapter of the far-right paramilitary group the Proud Boys.
“Fortunately, nothing bad happened,” Tam, 28, told The Daily Beast. “We were met with happiness and joy by people.” Tam was ultimately victorious in his bid to represent District 22—covering Waikiki, Ala Moana, and Kakaako on Oahu—in the Hawaii House of Representatives. He won the seat with 63 percent of the vote, and is now the only out LGBTQ representative in the statehouse.
On Wednesday, Tam told The Daily Beast that he was happy there had been a record turnout in Hawaii. “As a first-time candidate, like many first-time candidates, there may have been a little anxiety going into it. I am just grateful that we won, the anxiety is lifted. Now the hard work begins today.” The major issues he is focusing on are around homelessness, public safety, condominiums, coronavirus, the economy, and diversifying the regional economy away from tourism.
The biggest challenge he faced was not Ochs, said Tam, but defeating longtime Democratic incumbent Tom Brower in the primary. “This was a ‘change election,’” said Tam. “A lot of new candidates are younger, and won races or open primaries.”
https://www.yahoo.com/news/meet-adrian-tam-gay-man-093451604.html
