Enthusiasm is growing among Asian Americans in North Carolina.
Excitement is building in the community as Kamala Harris enters the race and could become the country’s first president of Asian American descent.
Senator Jay J. Chaudhry (Photo: ncleg.gov)
“I’ve already been on six Zoom calls about how members of the Asian American community can work together to make voting happen,” said Democratic Sen. Jay Chaudhry, who represents part of Wake County. “I’m working on it,” he said.
Harris marked many “firsts” when she became vice president after the 2020 election. She became the first woman, first Black, and first Asian American to hold the position. Her father is Jamaican and her mother is Indian.
She now has a chance to become the first Asian American presidential candidate if she wins the Democratic nomination.
Jimmy Patel Nguyen (Photo: NC Asian Americans Together)
“What people are excited about is recognizing the historical significance of her lived experience as an Asian American, a Black woman, bringing a different kind of inclusivity to the highest levels of government.” It’s really bringing a level of representation,” said Jimmy, communications director for Asian Americans Together of North Carolina. Patel-Nguyen said.
The organization focuses its energy on voter outreach efforts, focusing on raising awareness and education about important voting races.
North Carolina’s Asian American and Pacific Islander population has steadily increased in recent years.
The population will grow by 63.3 percent from 2012 to approximately 456,655 people in 2024, according to AAPIVote, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to strengthening civic engagement in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. .
North Carolina has approximately 235,900 Asian American and Pacific Islander voters, and voter eligibility increased by 55.4 percent from 2012 to 2022.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make up 2.97 percent of voters in battleground states. In 2020, then-President Donald Trump narrowly won North Carolina by fewer than 75,000 votes.
“It is very important for us to realize that major campaigns can no longer ignore us,” Patel Nguyen said. “We influence elections too much. With every local, state and federal election, we change the political landscape in North Carolina.”
The population is concentrated mainly in urban areas. Wake, Mecklenburg, Guilford, Durham, and Orange counties have the highest percentages of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
According to AAPIVote, nearly 60% of Asian American adults in North Carolina speak a language other than English at home.
State Rep. Maria Servania ) Photo: ncleg.gov)
In addition to low voter contact, language barriers contribute to low turnout among Asian Americans.
“There’s certainly a gap when it comes to language access and communication,” said Democratic Rep. Maria Servania, who represents parts of Wake County. “We know we need to continue doing that, and even more so now.”
That’s why groups like NCAAT work to make voting as accessible as possible. In the past, NCAAT has translated mailers into various languages in an effort to reach voters in their native languages.
Another issue is avoiding treating the Asian American community as a monolith. Because backgrounds and cultures are so diverse, there are a variety of opinions across the political spectrum.
“The vast majority of AAPI voters in North Carolina are registered independents,” Patel Nguyen said. “We are truly independent thinkers and we vote on issues, not all parties.”
While the important issues vary by individual voter, there are general themes.
NCAAT polling shows that young voters prioritize lowering the cost of living, protecting abortion access and reproductive rights, and making health care more affordable. Older voters are concerned not only about the economy and job creation, but also about crime and public safety.
The Harris campaign has spent more money on media outlets than ever before to reach Asian American voters, according to the campaign.
“AANPI voters across North Carolina are enthusiastic about electing Kamala Harris as the first Asian American president in U.S. history, just one week after Vice President Harris became our party’s presumptive nominee.” “We’ve seen a surge in support from,” said Natalie Murdoch, the campaign’s North Carolina political and coalition director.
