Top Issues Linked to Big Asian American 2024 Voter Turnout

By Jennie L. Ilustre

In 2020, concerns for public safety and reproductive rights led to a huge voter turnout by Americans of Asian descent. What would it be next year?

The economy, jobs, healthcare, anti-Asian racism, and education–these are the top responses of both Asian American Democrats and Republicans interviewed for this article. They are also the same top concerns of Mainstream America, except for the anti-racism issue. Notably, these same concerns are in focus in this year’s state races.

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As Asheesh Agarwal, president of Agarwal Strategies, LLC who served in the administrations of former Republican Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump, pointed out: “In my discussions, Asian American voters are motivated by the same issues that motivate all voters, including inflation, crime, border security, and national security, including concerns about Chinese and Russian aggression.”

He also cited education and pro-business policies as major issues. He said, “Republicans can grow their support in Asian communities by emphasizing support for education, including high standards, choice, and treating Asian-American students equally with other students, rather than discriminating against them.”

“Republicans should emphasize their support for pro-business policies that will allow Asian Americans to grow their businesses and earn more for their families,” he added.

Remarked Founder, President and CEO Bel Leong-Hong of woman-owned small business Knowledge Advantage Inc.: “Just like most Americans, our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community deeply cares about better health care and jobs to thrive.”

She continued: “Our younger generation AAPIs is equally passionate about the extreme climate change and environmental issues, about student debt, as well as the loss of freedom on many fronts.”

 “We are equally worried about access to health care –especially for our elders who may have language problems, as well as access to the full spectrum of family care, from childcare to elder care,” she said.

She stressed: “There is a great need for AAPIs to have a sense of belonging with inclusion, equity and opportunities to help our respective AAPI communities get closer to achieving the American Dream.”

Republican Terry Tolliver said, “Like most voters, Asian Americans are concerned about whether their lives will be better off if someone else is in office:  Will my family be taken care of, is my job secure, and can I continue to maintain my current lifestyle?”

He added: “Locally, crime and education policy are likely to motivate Asian Americans to vote. Is there someone else that has proposed better ideas to ensure the safety of our families? Will colleges treat Asian American children fairly when it comes time for admission decisions?”

“For many Asian-American families, the American Dream is still alive,” he said. “Parents simply want their children to do better than them and will make the necessary sacrifices to ensure that happens.”

Maya Noronha, Visiting Fellow, Independent Women’s Law Center, said: Asian Americans are motivated by equal opportunity in education and employment.”

“After the 2023 Supreme Court civil rights victory in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, Asians want leaders who will reward hard work and merit,” she added.

Galvanizing Issues

As the campaigns heat up for state races this year, with the presidential election cycle officially in earnest after Labor Day, and with the alarming rise in gun violence, some issues are gaining in traction.

Asked about top issues that would make Asian American voters turn up in huge numbers next year, prominent Republican C.C. Yin, a businessman who helped found Asian Pacific Islander American Political Association, replied simply–and his response speaks volumes about a major concern in the community: “The issue of Asian Hate.”

Top Democratic community leader Leong-Hong also noted, “Addressing anti-Asian hate and increasing racism issues are still at the forefront of major concerns.” 

Varun Nikore, executive director of AAPI Victory Alliance, citing data that his organization just recently completed, pointed out: “When looking at Asian American and Pacific Islander turnout over time, we again should realize that AAPI engagement is at record levels.”

“Supplemented by recent polling in Virginia to prepare for the upcoming election this year, we see that interest in voting is at stratospheric levels,” he added. “We believe that intensity level is due to core issues of the gun violence, reproductive rights and education issues.” 

He stressed: “The economy, jobs and inflation are important to the AAPI electorate, too.  However, the mid-term elections in 2022 proved that the electorate put those issues largely to the side when voting last year, something we expect this year in Virginia and potentially next year as well.”

“The bottom line,” he pointed out, “is that the AAPIs are extremely scared of gun violence, particularly mass shootings. AAPIs are also mad–both women and men–that basic reproductive freedoms afforded to them for over 50 years has now been taken away.” 

APIAVote

APIAVote, a non-partisan organization based in the nation’s capital headed by Executive Director Christine Chen, stated, “As in years past, jobs and the economy, healthcare, and education are likely to be top issues for many AAPIs.”

With the increase in crime in some parts of the country and the continued rise in anti-Asian hate, “public safety/crime is likely going to be a major issue on many AAPI voters’ minds,” especially with recent shootings this year impacting our community such as in Monterey Park, Half Moon Bay, and Allen, Texas.

This coincides with the community’s strong support for gun control measures. Nearly eight in ten (77%) of Asian Americans support stricter gun laws, second only to Black Americans.

 APIAVote noted an NBC report that said US-China geopolitical tensions is also on many Chinese Americans’ minds, especially after some lawmakers have moved to try and ban/limit Chinese nationals from buying or even renting property in the U.S.

Asian Americans are the most likely ethnic group to rank environmental issues as their No. 1 issue, with the natural catastrophes happening across the country, from Maui to Southern California.

Threats to Democracy

The issue of upholding democracy was a factor in the last presidential elections. Asked if threat to democracy is one of the major community concerns, Republican Agarwal replied: “Speaking for myself, I think that voters are much more concerned with issues that directly affect their lives than with the latest partisan bickering in D.C.”

He continued: “I live in flyover country (Indiana), and none of the APA lawyers who I speak with have mentioned any concerns that democracy is at risk –we take it in stride and know that the country will survive the latest turmoil.”

“Having said that, as an alumnus of the Department of Justice, I am very concerned about what appears to be double-standards in the application of criminal law,” he said.

Agarwal served as Department of Justice Deputy Assistant Attorney General under the G.W. Bush administration, He was also General Counsel at the Social Security Administration under the Trump administration.

When asked if threat to democracy is one of the major community concerns, prominent Asian American Democratic advocate Leong-Hong, remarked: “Yes, absolutely. Many of our Asian American communities come from backgrounds where they were unable to fully participate in the democratic process and had their freedoms revoked.”

She continued: “We’re currently facing a moment in history where many state and local legislatures are banning books, restricting educational curriculum taught in schools, as well as criminalizing medical practitioners from providing women’s reproductive health care services. These types of political actions are reminiscent of what many first generation Asian American immigrants have experienced before they came to this country.”

She noted: “This election cycle is one of the most critical cycles in modern history. In many respects, our value system is on the ballot. In the 2024 election, Democracy is on the ballot: Freedom to choose, freedom to be, freedom to vote, are on the ballot. These are not only our AAPI values…These are our American values.”