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Home , Adam Schiff, Eric Swalwell, Gil Cisneros, Grace Napolitano, Harley Rouda, Jerry McNerney

AAPI VOTINGBLOC VOTING BLOC I P A A the AAPI AAPI the Activating Voting Bloc Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) Islanders Pacific and Americans Asian 22.1 1.5 and million, respectively, nationwide. As Summary Summary 1 these communities continue to grow, does their so importance as voters. The AAPI electorate has electorate has voters. as AAPI The importance than more now number and forgroups decades reached a critical mass in Hawai’i and California and in Hawai’i mass acritical reached fastest-growing racial thehave country’s been among AAPIs include people of East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the , and the Pacific Islands. Pacific the and Philippines, the Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, East of people include AAPIs

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This voting of attention bloc is worthy candidates from Texas, Washington, Virginia.In these and geographies, AAPIs have avoting by become bloc, characterized AAPIs Georgia, Illinois,Georgia, New , Jersey, , and decisionand makers. congressional districts in California, Hawai’i, Hawai’i, in districts California, in congressional and (a) (b) and numbers significant perspectives. unifying

1 AAPI VOTING BLOC Key Geographies Significant in Numbers The following pie charts display states followingThe pie charts voting blocs in Hawai’i and California and voting in Hawai’i blocs numbers live in large voters. AAPIs While with the highest share of AAPI registered registered of AAPI with the share highest 2 in many states, they represent significant states, theyin significant many represent Source: 2020. Catalist, By TopBy States VoterAAPI Registration Share Hawai'i 38 % California 13 % 2 : Nevada 8 %

New Jersey New 7 % New York New 7 % Washington 7 % Maryland 5 % Virginia 5 % 2 AAPI VOTING BLOC The following two charts two following The 3 congressional districts with the highest congressional California congressional districts and then then districts and congressional California by non-California congressional districts: congressional by non-California share of AAPI registered voters, first by by registered voters, first of AAPI share Ibid. 3 display Congressional District California CA-43 CA-48 CA-30 CA-46 CA-45 CA-34 CA-53 CA-52 CA-32 CA-38 CA-33 CA-39 CA-28 CA-47 CA-27 CA-14 CA-12 CA-19 CA-18 CA-13 CA-15 CA-17 CA-11 CA-5 CA-6 CA-3 CA-9 CA-7 Newport Beach, CA Beach, Newport Sherman Oaks, CA San Francisco, CA Francisco, San Walnut Grove, CA Grove, Walnut Castro Valley, CA Valley, Castro Sacramento, CA , CA Angeles, Los Los Angeles, CA Angeles, Los Long Beach, CA Beach, Long Santa Clara, CA Clara, Santa San Mateo, CA Mateo, San St. Helena, CA Santa Ana, CA Ana, Santa San Diego, CA Diego, San San Diego, CA Diego, San Pasadena, CA Pasadena, Elk Grove, CA Grove, Elk Stockton, CA Stockton, San Jose, CA Jose, San Fullerton, CA Torrance, CA Torrance, Palo Alto, CA Alto, Palo El Monte, CA Monte, El Concord, CA Burbank, CA Whittier, CA Oakland, CA Location Irvine, CA (D) Napolitano Grace (D) Garamendi John Mark DeSaulnier (D) DeSaulnier Mark Representative Jerry McNerney (D) McNerney Jerry Mike Thompson (D) (D) Lowenthal Alan (D) Waters Maxine Linda Sanchez (D) Sanchez Linda (D) Sherman Brad (D) Gomez Jimmy (D) Speier Jackie (D) Swalwell Eric (D) (D) Pelosi Nancy Scott Peters (D) Peters Scott (D) Matsui Doris (D) Schiff Adam (D) Lee Barbara (D) Porter Katie (D) Lofgren Zoe (D) Davis Susan Rho Khanna (D) Khanna Rho (D) Eshoo Anna (D) Cisneros Gil (D) Correa Lou (D) Chu Judy (D) Bera Ami Ted (D) Lieu Registration Share AAPI Voter AAPI 20% 20% 44% 29% 29% 29% 28% 27% 27% 10% 12% 12% 12% 12% 16% 16% 19% 19% 18% 13% 13% 15% 14% 17% 17% 17% 11% 11% 3 AAPI VOTING BLOC Congressional District Non-California Non-California TX-22 NJ-12 NY-10 NY-14 NY-12 VA-10 WA-9 NY-11 VA-11 NJ-6 NJ-9 NV-3 NY-6 NY-5 NY-3 TX-9 TX-3 VA-8 GA-7 NY-7 TX-7 HI-2 L 8 IL- HI-1 Jackson Heights, NY New Brunswick, NJ Brunswick, New Staten Island, NY Island, Staten Sugar Land, TX Land, Sugar Little Neck, NY Neck, Little Alexandria, VA Annandale, VA Las Vegas, NV Vegas, Las McKinney, TX New York, NY York, New New York, NY York, New Paterson, NJ Paterson, Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn, Jamaica, NY Flushing, NY Houston, TX Houston, TX Honolulu, HI Honolulu, HI Sterling, VA Sterling, Renton, WA Renton, Atlanta, GA Atlanta, Location Ewing, NJ Ewing, Elgin, IL Elgin, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) Ocasio-Cortez Alexandria (D) Coleman Watson Bonnie (D) (D) Wexton Jennifer (D)Carolyn Nydia Velazquez (D)Nydia Velazquez Representative (D) (D)Gregory (D) Fletcher Lizzie Jr. (D) Pascrell Bill (D) Connolly Gerry (D) (D) Tulsi Gabbard Donald Beyer (D) Beyer Donald (D)Jerry Rob Woodall (R) Woodall Rob (D) Smith Adam (D) Meng Grace Pete Olson (R) Olson Pete (R) Taylor Van Suzie Lee (D) Lee Suzie (D) Rose Max (D) (D) Case Ed Registration Share AAPI Voter AAPI 48% 29% 10% 10% 10% 12% 12% 12% 12% 16% 19% 31% 13% 13% 13% 15% 15% 15% 14% 14% 14% 11% 11% 11% Washington, and Virginia. and Washington, NewNevada, Jersey, New York, Texas, Illinois, Georgia, Hawai’i, in California, is even particularly salient, more of AAPIs districtAt level, the the role congressional 4 AAPI VOTING BLOC Perspectives Unifying • • • • 2018 General Election:2018 General 5 4 Large in number in key geographies, AAPIs are are in in key AAPIs number geographies, Large Democratic candidateDemocratic over the Republican Looking atpresidential elections 2008 between candidate reached 71% in 2016, 71% trending candidate up reached among Asian Americans likely to vote Americans Asian among in the unitingalso in their For perspectives. example, and 2016, AAPI voters’ preference for preference voters’ the 2016,and AAPI steadily since 2008. since steadily  Source: 2018 American Election Eve Poll. Eve Election American 2018 Source: State House elections from 2008 to the present. These probabilities are then aggregated to provide estimates of subgroup support. It is important to note that VCH is estimated using identical methodology across years and offices, and that reported changes in in changes reported that and offices, and years and across Senate, State methodology identical using gubernatorial, House, U.S. estimated is VCH Senate, that note to support. in presidential, important is all It in changes candidate support. underlying real subgroup of Republican or represent to estimates likely Democratic are provide to anamed 2016 to for 2012 aballot from aggregated then cast) are have support could (or cast probabilities avoter These that present. the to probability 2008 from elections individual-level an House State assigns (VCH) History Choice Vote Catalist’s 2020. Catalist, Source: 79% agreed that Congress should enact enact should that Congress agreed 79% the pass should that Congress agreed 76% 79% agreed that racial profiling is that racial of a form agreed 79% DREAM Act. DREAM paid the same wages for the same work. for the wages same paid the same harassment and should not be allowed. should and harassment 90% agreed that women and men should be be should men that women and 90% agreed stricter gun laws. stricter gun

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2008-2016 VoterAAPI Choice Presidential by Party a voting bloc. political choices, akey criteria in the development of voters have similar beliefs on bothAAPI policies and Republican Democratic Democratic candidate candidate candidate candidate support support 2008 63 32 % % 26 2012 70 % %

71 2016 21 % % 5 AAPI VOTING BLOC 100 for AAPI Voting Power Growth Makes the Future Bright America. Voter 51% America. increased registration Americans of Asian 4% than more just comprise of theAAPIs nation’s registered voters but are among the fastest-growing in voters groups among are racial but 7  6  Key states for AAPI growth include: growth Key states for AAPI between 2008 and 2016, compared to 2016, 8% and compared just nationally. 2008 between Please note that percentage growth in voter registration is not an indication of voting bloc power because, in many of these states, AAPI’s represent a small percentage of the overall population. overall the of percentage asmall represent AAPI’s states, these of many in because, power bloc voting of indication an not is registration voter in growth percentage that note Please Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2017 Current Population March Surveys, Supplements. % Pennsylvania 213 % North 156 % 7

Texas 151 6

% Illinois 112 % 112 % Nevada 106 % 6 AAPI VOTING BLOC These densely populated and growing areas translate into translate populated growing areas voting and densely These vote at rates that approach overall turnout during presidentialvote during turnout overall atrates that approach within 5% of overall turnout, a significant milestone for AAPI voterwithin 5% milestone asignificant for of turnout, overall AAPI 8 turnout. turnout. elections. Additionally, were in the 2018 midterm election, AAPIs power the well. following as As chart growing areas translate into new AAPI voting into power. new AAPI translate areas growing Source: 2020. Catalist, 2008-2018 States United VoterAAPI Turnout General ElectionGeneral All signs indicate that these densely populated and and populated densely these that indicate signs All 2008 2008 70 67 % %

General ElectionGeneral

2010 2010 42 49 % % 8

indicates, AAPIs turn out to out turn indicates, AAPIs General ElectionGeneral 2012 2012 61 67 % %

General ElectionGeneral 2014 2014 44 33 % %

All registered voters General ElectionGeneral 2016 2016 68 65 % %

AAPI registered voters registered AAPI General ElectionGeneral 2018 2018 57 52 % %

7 AAPI VOTING BLOC Ahead Looking voter turnout campaigns. English proficientEnglish voter not offered and information in their Exercising the to right for vote AAPI achallenge remained has cities states with and limited restrictive voting are or who rules organizations must be appropriately equipped to run effective to run equipped be appropriately must organizations Civic participation have for legitimate their Civic participation concerns health. In pandemic, voters the of context thenative global language. otherand voters of for live color, those who in particularly

Conclusion AAPI Civic Engagement Fund Civic Engagement is additional considering research AAPI AAPIs have emerged as an indispensable voting indispensable an as have bloc in emerged the AAPIs With more organizing and funding, the AAPI community community the AAPI funding, and organizing more With For voters, visit please additional on the state data of AAPI voting in into key blocs municipalities analysis Deeper AAPI New York, Texas, have Washington, Virginia.AAPIs and in this area. this in The commission, council, otherin races. and county city local in California, Hawai’i, Georgia, Illinois, Georgia, New Nevada, Jersey, Hawai’i, in California, may provide additional insights on where AAPIs can wield power can providemay additional insights AAPIs on where https://aapifund.org/program/research-and-tools/ states of California and Hawai’i and in congressional districts districts in congressional and Hawai’i states of and California significant numbers and unifying perspectives in perspectives these areas. unifying and numbers significant can expand its influence even further by increasing voter by increasing even further its influence expand can in changing policy and social activism; and running for office. for office. running and activism; social and policy changing in registration and turnout rates; participating at higher rates rates higher at rates; participating turnout and registration .

8 AAPI VOTING BLOC The AAPI Civic Engagement Fund Civic Engagement would like AAPI toThe Catalist thank Fund. Civic Engagement by theThis authored AAPI brief was Acknowledgments provided copy editing designed this Iguchi Allison and brief. and SWEL for their assistance with this report. Christine Dunn Christine with for Dunn this their SWEL report. and assistance The AAPI Civic Engagement Fund Civic in 2014 with Engagement established was AAPI The About the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund Civic Engagement theAbout AAPI AAPI communities by supporting the growth of AAPI groups groups of AAPI the communities growth by supporting AAPI the mission to foster of civic aculture participation within achieve specific policy, change. transformational and systems, as organizational-movement and power-building and organizational-movement that leaders

It holds the vision that AAPIs must be an integral part of integral part be an must the vision holds It that AAPIs the quality of life in for multiracial the creating quality and vibrant all, communities. strengthening America’s democracy, in for advocating improving America’s strengthening

www.aapifund.org 9