Overlooked. Marginalized. Ignored.
As an Asian American involved in politics, I have heard those words from people who look like me as they explain why they are detached from politics. And, it’s true. Asian Americans have long been neglected in the political arena, and they still are to some extent today.
But that may soon change. Asian Americans are saying loud and clear that we are a coalition of voters ready to engage in politics. Even better, Asian Americans are acting on it.
The nation witnessed how engaged Asian American voters were in 2020 when our turnout reached a historic 60%. Now, a majority of Asian Americans say they plan on voting in November, and more than 30% of Asian Americans report that they are “more enthusiastic” about the 2022 midterms than previous elections.
With more than 22 million Asian Americans living in the United States — and a projected 46 million by 2060 — we represent the fastest-growing racial demographic in the nation, a group worth pursuing. And we aren’t concentrated in one area of the country. We are in every part of the country.
But which political party will benefit most from the increased enthusiasm and presence of Asian American voters? To date, the majority of Asian Americans continue to support Democrats and President Joe Biden, but the number is dropping. Against this backdrop, Democrats must take immediate action if they want to turn out the growing number of Asian Americans to help them win in November.
The way forward is twofold. Persuading Asian Americans to vote Democratic requires, first, reestablishing trust between the party and the Asian American community by understanding the history and continued struggles of Asian Americans and, second, refining the way Democrats reach and talk to Asian American voters.
It would be an understatement to say the Asian American experience is complicated. Many cast Asian Americans as a “model minority,”
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but make no mistake: We are a community that has long faced and endured discrimination, prejudice and violence. In 1871, more than a dozen Chinese Americans in Los Angeles were killed in what is considered one of the worst lynchings in U.S. history. During World War II, more than 120,000 Japanese Americans were forced to live in internment camps following an executive order signed by President Franklin Roosevelt.That bias and its consequences continue today. Exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the rhetoric from former President Donald Trump, a compilation of data by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism reveals that anti-Asian attacks and crimes increased by 339% last year.
Rebuilding trust and knowing how to grapple with the varied Asian American reality begin by first listening to the complex history of Asian Americans. But that isn’t happening, according to what Asian American voters are saying. Consider a recent Asian American Voter survey, which found that even when candidates and campaigns talk to Asian Americans, the focus centers around two issues: education and crime.
While such issues are certainly significant for Asian Americans, they are not all. The issues facing millions of Asian Americans go beyond merely education and crime and, instead, include everything from housing insecurity and lack of health care to environmental challenges. Democrats should take the time to understand our unique experiences. We should not be viewed as a monolith.
Solidifying the trust of Asian Americans also requires Democrats to invest in a more robust operation that reaches our community. Yet, recent findings show that Democrats are not doing enough of that. For instance, a new poll conducted by Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote reveals that more than half of Asian Americans have never been contacted by a political party. While this is concerning — especially for Democrats — there is a window of opportunity between now and November to make Asian Americans feel like we matter.
Given the lack of outreach to Asian Americans, it is incumbent on Democrats to send volunteers and organizers to meet Asian Americans where we are. That could be through online spaces used by Asian Americans including WeChat or physical ones where Asian Americans are concentrated such as Chinatown and Koreatown neighborhoods.
It also means allocating additional resources to make ads that speak specifically to what Asian Americans are concerned about and why Democrats are best positioned to solve them. For example, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee made an ad that conveyed the danger posed by the reversal of Roe v. Wade to Asian American women and families. The ad was aired in California and Nevada — states that have a strong Asian American population. Now, with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, Democrats have a perfect moment to create ads about how the bill would benefit Asian American families.
The stakes in November couldn’t be higher. Democrats can and should reach out to make Asian Americans feel seen, heard and valued. It is time — and, more than ever before, Asian Americans are ready.
Victor Shi, a junior at the University of California at Los Angeles, co-hosts the “iGen Politics” podcast. He recently completed an internship at the White House.
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