ATLANTA (Yonhap News) ― Around 20 Korean-American candidates are running in federal and local elections to be held alongside the presidential polls next week, according to the Korean-American community here on Thursday.

Democratic Mayor Kang Suk-hee of Irvine, California, is the only Korean-American seeking a seat in the federal legislature this time.

If he wins the race, he will become the second Korean-American to be elected to Congress, after Jay Kim (Kim Chang-jun), who served as a Republican member of the House from 1993 to 2000.

In the competition for the 45th District in California, Kang is fast catching up with incumbent Congressman John Campbell, polls show.

Kang stressed that Irvine was able to balance its budget each year under his mayorship.

He also characterizes himself as a “Washington outsider” who will not play partisan politics.

Kang, born in Seoul in 1952, emigrated to the U.S. in 1977. He said he decided to get involved in politics following the 1992 Los Angeles riots, during which hundreds of Korean businesses suffered extensive losses. He has since played an active role in a civic and community affairs.

A handful of young Korean-American politicians are also campaigning for seats in state legislatures.

Among them is Pak Byung-jin, a Republican member of the Georgia House of Representatives who is seeking re-election. He has represented District 102 since 2011.

Pak served as a prosecutor for the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.

Kim Jung-dong, a Korean-American lawyer, is running for the New York State Senate in the 16th District.