Thoughts from Asian Americans Community Leaders on the 2016 Presidential Elections

Chiling Tong, Founder & CEO

International Leadership Foundation

In terms of voting behavior, 2016 will prove to be a very interesting presidential election cycle. In 1992, only 31% of Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) voted for then-Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton. By 2012, over 70% voted for the reelection of President Obama. As we head into the 2016 presidential elections, Asian Pacific Americans will indeed be watching very closely. In two decades, we have seen the shifts and rise of the importance of Asian Pacific American voters.

Asian Pacific Americans will be listening very carefully to debates and statements by presidential hopefuls. They want to know which candidate is looking out for their best interest and the viable solutions the candidates will present.

Like many Americans, Asian Pacific Americans are concerned about the nation’s top issues. In the 2014 election, Asian Americans Advancing Justice and Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote found that issues considered “extremely important” to APA voters surveyed include national security (42%), jobs and the economy (41%), gun control (40%), and healthcare (40%).”

 

 

Ninio Fetalvo

Republican National Committee

Asian Pacific American Press Secretary

Unlike a Hillary Clinton presidency that would represent the same failed Democrat policies of President Obama, Asian Pacific Americans will vote for a Republican candidate that increases economic and educational opportunities for themselves and their families. Republicans will continually engage with Asian Pacific Americans year-round, and provide for our community to express their concerns.

 

 

Gregory A. Cendana

Executive Director of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO, Institute for Asian Pacific American Leadership & Advancement

Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) care about the same issues the broader electorate cares about: the economy, jobs, education, health care and immigration. The direction our country goes for any of these issues will be determined by who our elected leaders are, including the President.

Organizations should continue to follow the legislation that impacts their communities and understand where their elected officials stood–or didn’t–with them. Additionally, they should continue to encourage voter registration and participate in the holiday on civic engagement, National Voter Registration Day (http://nationalvoterregistrationday.org).

The best way to engage AAPIs and broader communities of color is to have people who look like us, understand our issues and have the on-the-ground experience in our communities. Along with Alida Garcia, Quentin James and Steve Philips, I helped co-found an organization called Inclusv (www.inclusv.com).

Inclusv hopes to fill this gap in political campaigns and to build a pipeline of professionals that is reflective of the diversity of our country…We are gearing up now for the 2016 cycle.