NEW YORK, Nov. 2 - Flushing businessman-turned-politician Jimmy Meng made history yesterday, winning the 22nd District Assembly race to become the first Asian American elected to the New York State legislature. Meng, a Democrat, resoundingly defeated opponents including Republican candidate Meilin Tan and Green Party candidate Evergreen Chou.

At 11 p.m., with 64 percent of precincts reporting, Meng was leading his challengers with 69 percent of the vote. Tan was a distant second, with 20 percent of the vote, while Chou had 2 percent. The one-term incumbent, Barry Grodenchik, who was defeated by Meng in the Democratic primary and ran instead on the Working Families ticket, took 9 percent, but he did virtually no campaigning and was not expected to win.

"I think the people have recognized what I have done for the community," a jubilant Meng said at a post-election party. He said the voters supported him "because they think I'm the one that can make a better Flushing."

Tan was gracious in her defeat. "We ran a beautiful, clean campaign. We did great," she said. "Unfortunately this is just a democratic town, and I just have to accept that fact."

Chou also reflected on his loss in a post-election concession speech delivered via e-mail. "I will still continue to work for the people as a Green Party member and a community activist; I will continue to fight and organize for affordable housing, a living wage and workers and immigration rights for the people of Flushing," he said after thanking his supporters and volunteers.

Meng will use his first year in office to improve life for everyone in Flushing, said Gary Tilzer, one of Meng's campaign managers. He wants to work on "treating seniors with dignity and respect and finding more money for our schools," Tilzer said, adding that Meng also will work to reform the political process in Albany.

But as they went to the polls, Flushing voters seemed largely unconcerned with Meng's political agenda or plans for his time in office. Both Asian and non-Asian voters interviewed at a Flushing polling station this morning highlighted his personality over his politics. The phrase "Jimmy's just a nice man," echoed endlessly.

Most Asian voters interviewed also said they felt a communal connection to Meng. Meng's appeal with the Chinese immigrants in Flushing is obvious, according to Li Bernadette, professor of Asian-American Studies at St. John's University. "Naturally, he is more attractive to Chinese American voters," she said. "He is a Chinese immigrant. He is familiar with them and they are familiar with him."

George Yu, 31, immigrated to Flushing from Beijing 16 years ago. He earned his citizenship this year and chose to support Meng in his first election because, he said, "so far, we haven't had adequate representation. We need someone to try and represent us."

All three candidates in the race were Asian immigrants, reflecting a growing movement in Flushing and beyond to reflect a community's diversity in its local government. Peter Cheng, a native of Taiwan and an American citizen for the last 18 years, said he recently noticed a change in Flushing's political climate. "Two years ago the scene was totally different, he said. "Compared to two or three years ago, there are a lot of new immigrants voting." Asians are finally realizing the power of voting, he said.

The growth in immigrant voting extends beyond Flushing or even New York City. "This is just the beginning of not only a movement in this city, but a national movement by the Asian population to assert our voices and to place ourselves squarely in the political eye of America," said Veronica Jung, executive director of the Korean American League for Civic Action. "We definitely have a sense that this is a sign of things to come in the future," she said.

With both the Asian immigrant population and their political awareness increasing, Bernadette said, "Asian Americans are going to be more significant than ever in American politics."

Yet Meng's appeal also extends beyond Flushing's Asian community. His immigrant status is attractive to all the community's immigrants and minorities -including the Koreans, Italians, and Hispanics - said Tilzer.

Evelyn Fong, 55, was born in Columbia to a Chinese father and a Hispanic mother. She said she doesn't consider herself Chinese, but still felt she connected with Meng. "I like Jimmy," she said, pausing momentarily to hand out Meng campaign posters and pamphlets to passersby on the Monday before Election Day. "Jimmy Meng is very sensitive to the people of Flushing," and he will help all ethnic groups, she said. "Chinese, Korean, Mandarin. Anybody."

Jeri Holt, 52, identified herself as a community activist and a representative of the African-American Democrats in Flushing. "Jimmy's just a good man," she asserted. He has a "knack of binging different cultures and races together."

Immigrants are simply more likely to support immigrant candidates, said Bryan Pu-Folkes, executive director of New Immigrant Community Empowerment, a New York advocacy group. "It's a general human tendency to support those who you perceive to be most attentive to your needs," he said. "People tend to gravitate to people they perceive to be like them."