Asian American Voters Backed Clinton Over Trump by Wide Margins

EunSook Lee, Director of the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund. Photo by Keyang Pang
EunSook Lee, Director of the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund. Photo by Keyang Pang

LOS ANGELES, CA – Contrary to mainstream exit poll results, the 2016 national Asian American Election Eve Poll reveals that Asian Americans voted for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump by wide margins (75% to 19%), well-above the 47.7% support she garnered in the general national electorate.  Ethnically, Asian American support for Clinton was as follows: Chinese (69%), Filipino (78%), Indian (87%), Korean (65%), Vietnamese (74%), and Japanese (64%).

This unique poll surveyed 2,391 respondents from diverse Asian ethnic groups: Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Korean, Vietnamese, and Japanese. Interviews were conducted in five languages, with all interviews completed in the language of preference of the respondents. The survey was sponsored by the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and the National Education Association (NEA).

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest-growing racial group in the U.S., with a population of more than 21 million, and AAPIs are a growing electorate that is increasingly influential yet often ignored. By 2040, one in every ten Americans will be AAPI, and the number of voters will double to 12 million. The voting-age population of AAPIs already exceeds 10% in seven states, including California. Advancing Justice-LA estimates that as of the November 2016 election, there were 1.8 million Asian American voters registered in the state (up more than 150,000 since 2012), including 502,000 Chinese Americans, 410,000 Filipino Americans, 271,000 Vietnamese Americans, 188,000 Indian Americans, 150,000 Korean Americans, and 117,000 Japanese Americans.

Karin Wang is the Vice President of Programs and Communications, overseeing Advancing Justice-LA. Photo by Keyang Pang
Karin Wang is the Vice President of Programs and Communications, overseeing Advancing Justice-LA. Photo by Keyang Pang

Other highlights from the 2016 Asian American Election Eve Poll, including California-specific data:

  • At the national level, 56% of Asian Americans now identify as Democrats, a marked jump from 49% in the same poll four years ago.
  • In California, Asian American support for Clinton was higher than her national support, with 79% of Asian Americans supporting Clinton versus 13% for Trump.  High numbers of Asian Americans in the state reported that Trump made them angry (72%) and afraid (64%).
  • Asian Americans in California supported Kamala Harris for the open U.S. Senate seat at 69% (compared to 63% of all voters).
  • On two high profile California propositions, 77% of Asian American voters surveyed supported Proposition 55 which extends an existing tax to fund public education (compared to 62% of all voters in California) and 80% of Asian Americans voted for Proposition 56 which imposes a $2 tax on tobacco products (compared to 63% of all voters).
  • The poll highlights the pressing need for more Asian American voter outreach and civic engagement, as the community is too often overlooked by campaigns, political parties, and civic organizations alike. The survey found that an incredible 57% of Asian American voters were not asked by any campaign, political party or organization to vote or to register to vote – and 84% of those who were reached were contacted in English.
  • In addition, Asian Americans still face significant barriers at the polls. 67% of Asian Americans are immigrants born outside of the U.S., many of whom are first-time voters with limited English proficiency. Many are asked for additional voter identification, are segregated from other voters, and have to use polling locations without any available language assistance.

The full results of the 2016 Asian American Election Eve Poll are available here,
or view an infographic summarizing the topline results here.

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