On July 25, 2005, a group of Chinese community leaders gathered together to announce that they will collectively raise $50,000 to $100,000 for Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) and deliver 50,000 votes to get her re-elected. Four days later, the group – whose members were entirely immigrants from the Fujian province in southern China – hosted a party for Sen. Clinton in Chinatown.

Chinchuan Chen, president of the Fukian American Association, said that the Chinese community was very excited over Sen. Clinton’s visit and that it would be beneficial to Chinese immigrants if the senator will be reelected.

“If she (Clinton) were to become the U.S. president,” Chen said, “it will help Chinese to merge into the mainstream society.”

The Fujianese immigrants have expressed a high expectation for Clinton’s second term. They want her to block any anti-immigration legislation proposed by the conservatives and hope that she will ease the difficulties for new immigrants to get driver’s licenses. They also hope that Clinton will get more medical and education money for new immigrants.

Shigan Zheng, acting president of the United Fujianese of American Association, said that there are 800,000 Fujianese immigrants in the United States. Of these, he said, about 300,000 are eligible to vote, which is a voting bloc that politicians should not ignore.

During the meeting on July 25, many Fujianese immigrants showed up and pledged money on the spot. Most of the donations given for Clinton’s reelection bid ranged from $500 to $1,000.

The Fujianese community does not only wish Hillary to be re-elected as senator, but they also want to see her as the first female U.S. president in 2008. According to a report, New York City is believed to be the center of Fujianese immigrants and their force is expected to influence other Fujianese in different cities across the country.