Asian American voters are increasingly shifting “to the right,” according to analysis by the Los Angeles Times in its November 10 opinion section. This shift, which has been gradually unfolding, presents a potential new future for the Republican Party as it gains support among these voters.

According to the newspaper, an exit poll conducted by Edison Research, in cooperation with various media outlets, found that 54% of Asian American voters supported the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, while 39% backed the Republican Donald Trump. Despite Kamala Harris appealing to Asian American voters through her personal background, the polling results reflect a weakened Democratic influence over this demographic, LA Times reports.

In the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden of the Democratic Party received 61% of Asian American support, compared to Trump’s 34%. This represents a shift from the 2016 election, where Hillary Clinton won 65% of the Asian American vote, while Trump garnered only 27%. Since 2016, both Trump and the Republican Party have drawn increased support from Asian American voters.

One of the primary reasons for this shift is economic, the newspaper suggests. According to polling data, Asian American voters, like other groups, are primarily focused on economic issues. Factors like inflation, rising gas prices, and general cost-of-living concerns are top priorities for these voters, outweighing past Trump scandals, JD Vance's missteps, or Republican stances on education and healthcare, which often differ from the views of typical Asian American voters.

The LA Times further notes that according to AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Data, Asian American voters make up between 3% to 12% of the electorate in key swing states such as Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. In these states, economic concerns emerged as the most critical issue, and Trump ultimately won across all these battleground states.

Immigration policy has also played a role in this shift, according to the analysis. Republican leaders have often claimed that undocumented immigrants drain resources meant for citizens and pose a safety threat. This conservative message resonates with some Asian American citizens, particularly among middle and working-class individuals, who may feel these issues threaten their stability and prosperity. The article suggests that this message reinforces the notion among many that undocumented immigrants undermine the value of legal pathways to citizenship.

Religion emerged as another significant factor in the shift. Many Asian communities have strong church and religious ties, and the Democratic Party’s stances on issues like gender identity and abortion often conflict with religious teachings, prompting some voters to reconsider their alignment.

Finally, the LA Times points to a perception that the Democratic Party is losing its identity as a representative of the working class. Since Bernie Sanders popularized democratic socialism, criticism has arisen from the left that Democrats are increasingly seen as the party of highly educated elites, celebrities, and the wealthy, creating a growing sense of disconnection from ordinary Americans.

While it’s still early to definitively conclude that these trends represent a political realignment, the paper emphasizes that the Republican Party is clearly expanding its base. The key question now is how long Trump and the GOP can maintain this momentum.

— Reported by Hyung-seok Han

<Hyungseok Han>