For Asian American voters policy more important than race: Pew survey

Nearly all Asian American registered voters (97%) say a candidate’s policy positions are more important than their race or ethnicity when deciding whom to vote for, according to a new survey ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

At the same time, a 68% majority of Asian registered voters say it’s extremely or very important to have a national leader who can advance the concerns of the US Asian community, according to a nationally representative Pew Research Center survey conducted from July 2022 to January 2023.

These findings are especially relevant as the 2024 US presidential election approaches, the Washington think tank says noting two candidates of South Asian ancestry, Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy, are running for the Republican nomination.

South Asian Americans played a role in averting ‘red wave’: SAFA (December 29, 2022)

Experts examined the extent to which Asian registered voters value a candidates’ policy positions vs. racial identity based on the largest survey of its kind, conducted in six languages among 7,006 Asian adults living in the US.

Asian Americans continue to be underrepresented among elected officials in the United States compared with their share of the country’s population.

As of the beginning of the 118th Congress, 16 House members and two senators claim Asian ancestry, the report noted.

Asian Americans share a sense of belonging in the US: Study (August 2, 2022)

Asian registered voters tend to prefer the Democratic Party: 62% are Democrats or lean Democratic, while 34% are Republicans or GOP leaners.

Most Asian-origin groups are majority Democratic. However, more Vietnamese registered voters identify as Republican than Democratic (51% vs. 42%).

What issues do Asian American voters care about the most?

About four in ten Asian American registered voters (41%) — including 35% Indian Americans — say inflation is the most important issue facing their local community, by far the most common issue cited during the extended survey period, which ended in January.

Economic inequality (16%) is the second-most mentioned issue, followed by violent crime (11%) and racism (9%). These concerns follow reports of violence against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the case of Indian Americans, the figures are 13%,10%, and 13% respectively for the three top issues.

Among the six largest Asian origin groups, inflation is consistently cited as the biggest issue facing Asian American voters’ communities. In addition, the ranking of issues is largely similar across origin groups, though some minor differences emerge:

Japanese registered voters (28%) are more likely than Chinese (15%), Filipino (15%), Indian (13%) and Vietnamese (9%) voters to view economic inequality as the biggest issue facing their community.

For 15% of Indian registered voters say climate change is the most important issue facing their community. This is higher than the share saying the same among Filipino (7%), Chinese (6%), Japanese (6%) and Vietnamese (5%) voters.

How do Asian American voters’ views differ by political party?

Views of top issues diverge sharply by party among Asian American Asian Republican voters are more likely than their Democratic counterparts to view inflation as the most important issue facing the community they live in. Even so, it is the most cited top issue for both groups.

Asian Democratic voters are more than twice as likely as Republicans to say economic inequality is the biggest issue facing their community.

Economic inequality is the second-most cited issue among Asian Democratic voters. Among Asian Republican voters, violent crime is the second-most cited issue.

How do Asian American voters’ views differ by nativity?

Views of top issues also vary somewhat by nativity among Asian American registered voters – that is, based on whether they were born in the US or abroad.

Asian registered voters born in the US are slightly more likely than immigrants to view economic inequality as the most important issue facing their community. However, the importance of issues varies less by nativity than by party among Asian Americans.