Mink was the first Asian American woman to run for U.S. president.
On May 23, 1974, Patsy Mink entered the Democratic presidential primaries, notably filing for the Oregon primary, making her the first Asian American woman to seek the U.S. presidency. Her candidacy challenged established norms of who could aspire to the nation’s highest office and underscored her commitment to breaking down barriers for women and minorities across political platforms.