{{short description|American politician|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Adrian Tam |native_name = {{small|譚家昇}} |image = Rep Adrian Tam.jpg |state_house = Hawaii |district = 24th |term_start = November 3, 2020 |term_end = |predecessor = Tom Brower |successor = |office1 = Chair of the Democratic Party of Hawaii |status = |term_start1 = December 2, 2023 |term_end1 = May 19, 2024 |predecessor1 = Donna Domingo (acting) |successor1 = Derek Turbin |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|9|11}} |birth_place = Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |party = Democratic |education = Pennsylvania State University (BA) }} '''Adrian Kar-Tsing Tam''' ({{lang-zh|s=譚家昇|j={{tone superscript|Taam4 Gaa1 Sing1}}}}; born September 11, 1992) is an American politician serving as a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the interim Chair of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

==Early life== Tam is a second-generation Asian American of Taiwanese ancestry.<ref name="dbeast"/><ref name="lablade"/> His father had served as an assistant to a draftsman, and his mother worked in sales.<ref name="dbeast"/> Following graduation from Kalani High School,<ref name="hnn">{{cite news |last1=Richardson |first1=Mahealani |title=At just 28, newly-elected lawmaker garners national attention for breaking barriers |url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/11/10/state-rep-elect-adrian-tam-garners-national-attention-breaking-barriers/ |access-date=12 November 2020 |work=Hawaii News Now}}</ref> he graduated with a degree in history from Pennsylvania State University, and upon returning to Hawaii, began working for his family's real estate company.<ref name="dbeast">{{cite news |last1=Teeman |first1=Tim |title=Meet Adrian Tam, the Gay Man Who Beat a 'Proud Boys' Leader in Hawaii's Election |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/meet-adrian-tam-the-gay-man-who-beat-a-proud-boys-leader-in-hawaiis-election |access-date=12 November 2020 |work=Daily Beast |date=5 November 2020}}</ref><ref name="lablade">{{cite news |title=Gay Asian-American defeats Alt-Right extremist in Hawai'i State House race |url=https://www.losangelesblade.com/2020/11/11/gay-asian-american-defeats-alt-right-extremist-in-hawaii-state-house-race/ |access-date=12 November 2020 |work=Los Angeles Blade |date=11 November 2020}}</ref>

==Political career== Tam worked in the Hawaii Senate for Senator Stanley Chang before running for public office in 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=Candidate Q&A: State House District 22 — Adrian Tam |url=https://www.civilbeat.org/2020/09/candidate-qa-state-house-district-22-adrian-tam/ |access-date=12 November 2020 |work=Honolulu Civil Beat |date=24 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-09 |title=3 throw hat in ring to fill Mizuno's district seat |url=https://news.yahoo.com/3-throw-hat-ring-fill-170500297.html |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}</ref> He defeated incumbent Tom Brower in the Democratic Party primary election,<ref name="hnn"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cole |first1=William |title=State House Speaker Scott Saiki maintains lead over Kim Coco Iwamoto |url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/08/08/breaking-news/state-house-speaker-scott-saiki-has-slim-advantage-over-kim-coco-iwamoto-in-early-election-results/ |access-date=12 November 2020 |work=Star Advertiser |date=8 August 2020}}</ref> then won the general election for the 22nd district of the Hawaii House of Representatives against Republican Party candidate Nicholas Ochs, who previously served as the vice chairman of Donald Trump's Hawaii campaign in the 2016 United States elections, had strong support from Roger Stone and drew media attention for founding the Hawaii chapter of the Proud Boys.<ref name="staradvertiser.com">[https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/01/08/breaking-news/fbi-arrests-founder-of-proud-boys-hawaii-after-he-returns-to-islands-from-u-s-capitol-riots/ FBI arrests founder of ‘Proud Boys Hawaii’ after he returns to islands from U.S. Capitol riots]</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Zoellner |first1=Danielle |title=Gay Asian-American Democrat defeats Proud Boys leader for Hawaii House seat |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/adrian-tam-democrat-lgbtq-house-seat-proud-boys-b1720596.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110185632/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/adrian-tam-democrat-lgbtq-house-seat-proud-boys-b1720596.html |archive-date=2020-11-10 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |access-date=12 November 2020 |work=The Independent |date=11 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dayton |first1=Kevin |title=Hawaii Legislature: GOP Loses A House Seat, Stays Even In The Senate |url=https://www.civilbeat.org/2020/11/hawaii-legislature-gop-loses-a-house-seat-stays-even-in-the-senate/ |access-date=12 November 2020 |work=Honolulu Civil Beat |date=3 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tam takes House Dist. 22 seat, beating opponent associated with right wing extremist group |url=https://www.kitv.com/story/42865194/tam-takes-house-dist-22-seat-beating-opponent-associated-with-right-wing-extremist-group |access-date=12 November 2020 |publisher=KITV |date=4 November 2020 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112184033/https://www.kitv.com/story/42865194/tam-takes-house-dist-22-seat-beating-opponent-associated-with-right-wing-extremist-group |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://www.civilbeat.org/2021/01/nick-ochs-and-hawaii-a-harbinger-of-local-right-wing-politics-in-our-state/ Nick Ochs And Hawaii: A Harbinger Of Local, Right-Wing Politics In Our State? Is the Proud Boy an anomaly or a sign of something deeper?]</ref> After Tam was seated, he became the only openly gay member of the Hawaii State Legislature.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Venkatraman |first1=Sakshi |title=Adrian Tam defeats local Proud Boys leader, becomes only gay Asian American in Hawaii House |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/adrian-tam-defeats-local-proud-boys-leader-becomes-1st-gay-n1246790 |access-date=12 November 2020 |work=NBC News |date=9 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Alex |last1=Hider |title=28-year-old defeats Proud Boys leader to become only openly LGBTQ+ member of Hawaii House |url=https://www.newschannel5.com/news/election-2020/28-year-old-defeats-proud-boys-leader-to-become-only-openly-lgbtq-member-of-hawaii-house |access-date=12 November 2020 |publisher=WTVF |date=10 November 2020}}</ref>{{efn|During the 2020 United States elections, the ''Proud Boys'' were supported by Iranian cyber actors according to the United States National Intelligence Council (NIC).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/ICA-declass-16MAR21.pdf |title=Foreign Threats to the 2020 US Federal Elections |work=United States National Intelligence Council (NIC) |page=6 |date=10 March 2021 |access-date=24 March 2022}}</ref>}}

Following the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, Tam and other Hawaii lawmakers signed a letter requesting rioters to be placed on the federal No Fly List.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hawaii Lawmakers Asking Capitol Rioters be Placed on No-Fly List |url= https://bigislandgazette.com/hawaii-lawmakers-asking-capitol-rioters-be-placed-on-no-fly-list |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210109033319/https://bigislandgazette.com/hawaii-lawmakers-asking-capitol-rioters-be-placed-on-no-fly-list/ |url-status= usurped |archive-date= January 9, 2021 |access-date= 9 January 2021 |publisher=BIG |date=8 January 2021}}</ref>{{efn|After returning from the failed January 6, 2021 Putsch, Nick Ochs was arrested on the evening of January 7, 2021 at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu for his participation in the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol. He retained both Myles Breiner in Honolulu and the Washington DC attorney Edward MacMahon, Jr. and entered a not guilty plea on February 12, 2021. Previously, Edward MacMahon, Jr. represented Zacarias Moussaoui, who was a 9/11 hijacker. MacMahon was involved in the proceedings during the Iran–Contra affair as well.<ref name="staradvertiser.com">[https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/01/08/breaking-news/fbi-arrests-founder-of-proud-boys-hawaii-after-he-returns-to-islands-from-u-s-capitol-riots/ FBI arrests founder of ‘Proud Boys Hawaii’ after he returns to islands from U.S. Capitol riots]</ref><ref>[https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2021/01/27/hawaii-proud-boy-charged-capitol-riot-hires-dc-based-lawyer/ Hawaii ‘Proud Boy,’ charged in Capitol riot, hires D.C. based lawyer]</ref><ref>[https://www.kitv.com/story/43263164/hawaii-proud-boy-nick-ochs-hires-new-highprofile-lawyer-for-capitol-case Hawaii 'Proud Boy' Nick Ochs hires new high-profile lawyer for Capitol case]</ref><ref>[https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2021/02/13/hawaii-extremist-group-founder-pleads-not-guilty-capitol-attack-charges/ Hawaii extremist group founder pleads not guilty to Capitol attack charges]</ref><ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/politics/elections/2021/05/09/capitol-riot-conspiracy-charge-faces-31-suspects-including-proud-boys/7353740002/ Capitol riot spurred conspiracy charge against 31 suspects, but how hard is it to prove?]</ref>}}

Tam is a member of the Progressive Legislative Caucus.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Chad |last1=Blair |title=Chad Blair: New Progressive Caucus Hopes To Be A Force At The Legislature |url=https://www.civilbeat.org/2021/01/chad-blair-new-progressive-caucus-hopes-to-be-a-force-at-the-legislature/ |access-date=24 November 2021 |publisher=Civil Beat |date=25 January 2021}}</ref>

In December 2023, Tam was elected interim Chair of the Democratic Party of Hawaii by the State Central Committee. His term ended on May 19, 2024, and was succeeded by Derek Turbin.<ref>{{cite news |title= Democratic Party of Hawai'i Elects Interim Party Chair |url=https://mauinow.com/2023/12/03/democratic-party-of-hawaii-elects-interim-party-chair/ |access-date=4 December 2023 |publisher=MauiNow |date=3 December 2023}}</ref>

In 2024, Tam was named the Chair of the House Committee on Tourism. In 2025, him and Senator Lynn DeCoite passed SB 1571, a bill that downgraded the Hawaii Tourism Authority governing board to an advisory board following public distrust and mismanagement over the agency.<ref>{{cite web | title=State bill would change oversight of Hawai'i Tourism Authority | date=April 27, 2025 | url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2025/04/27/hawaii-news/state-bill-would-change-oversight-of-hawaii-tourism-authority/ }}</ref>

==Personal life==

Tam lives with his dog, Winston.<ref>{{cite news |title=Adrian Tam Defeats One of the Proud Boys And Makes History in Hawaii: Rainbow Wave |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU59Bir-zig |access-date=18 May 2021 |work=Logo TV |date=2 April 2021}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==

In June 2021, Queerty named Tam one of its "Pride50" people "who made a positive impact in the last year and who are helping to lead the nation toward equality, acceptance, and dignity for all queer people".<ref>{{cite news |title=Queerty Pride50 2021 Honorees |url=https://www.queerty.com/pride50 |access-date=31 May 2021 |work=Queerty |date=31 May 2021}}</ref>

==Electoral history==

{{Election box begin no change |title = Hawaii's 22nd House District Democratic primary, 2020 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Adrian Tam | votes = 1964 | percentage = 51.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Tom Brower (incumbent) | votes = 1820 | percentage = 48.1 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 3784 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change |title = Hawaii's 22nd House District General Election, 2020 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Adrian Tam | votes = 6080 | percentage = 67.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Nicholas Ochs | votes = 2869 | percentage = 32.1 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 8949 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = Democratic Party (United States) }} {{Election box end}}

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Donna Domingo<br>Acting}} {{s-ttl|title=Chair of the Democratic Party of Hawaii<br>Acting|years=2023–2024}} {{s-aft|after=Derek Turbin}} {{s-end}}

{{Hawaii House of Representatives}} {{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tam, Adrian}} Category:1992 births Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people Category:American gay politicians Category:American LGBTQ people of Asian descent Category:American politicians of Taiwanese descent Category:American real estate brokers Category:Democratic Party members of the Hawaii House of Representatives Category:21st-century members of the Hawaii State Legislature Category:Hawaii politicians of Chinese descent Category:LGBTQ state legislators in Hawaii Category:Living people Category:Pennsylvania State University alumni Category:State political party chairs of Hawaii