On May 17, 2021, Chinese-American politician Yimberly Yee announced her candidacy for Arizona governor in 2022

Yi Yanfen Pictures from ABC 15 Arizona Treasurer Yimberly Yee announced on Monday that she will run for 2022...

Yi Yanfen Pictures from ABC 15

Arizona Treasurer Yimberly Yee announced on Monday that she will run for governor in 2022, jumping into the Republican primary to succeed Doug Ducey after her second term ends.

Yee, the first prominent Republican to enter the race, sought to leverage her conservative credentials by highlighting border issues and endorsing former President Donald Trump in a short video posted Monday morning. Another Republican candidate entered the race Monday night.

Yee said: "I am running for governor to put Arizona first to ensure that our children have the same opportunities and freedoms that their families enjoy here, and that starts with securing our southern border."

The announcement made clear that she intends her support of Trump to be a key part of her appeal to Republican primary voters. She spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention and in 2020 served as Trump Asian Pacific American National Co-Chair and as a member of President Trump’s Advisory Council

Arizona State Treasurer Kimberly Yee speaks at the RNC Watch Gala at the MAGA Gathering Volunteer Event in Phoenix on August 24, 2020.

In 2018, was the first Asian American to win an important position in Arizona state government. She served as a state senator representing West Valley District 20 and served as majority leader from 2017 to 2019.

During the 2018 Finance Contest debate, Yee said she opposed raising taxes, but said she wanted the state to review them and look for ways to improve the process.

"I think it's really important to understand the big picture of our state's tax system as a whole," she said during the debate. "Even how they file their taxes. Makes it easier for us as small business owners."

Yee previously worked in the state Legislature and as treasurer.

Before getting involved in Arizona politics, she served as deputy cabinet secretary to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and policy analyst to California Governor Pete Wilson. She now runs a dental practice with her husband in the West Valley. Yee was born and raised in Arizona and holds degrees from Pepperdine University and Arizona State University. Yu Yanfen has two children.