About 70 diners gathered at a Chinese restaurant in San Francisco’s Sunset District on Tuesday not just to enjoy Hong Kong-style noodle soup but to ignite a fledgling political movement.
It was an Asian American Republican dinner hosted by the San Francisco Briones Association, a self-described moderate alternative to hardcore MAGA, which chose to hold the event on the city’s west side, home to a large middle-class Asian American population.
“How can we do more to serve the interests of Asian Americans?” Jennifer Yang, a member of the Briones Association and an incoming Republican County Central Committee member, asked the crowd. “I know many of us are not satisfied with the status quo.”
As major political candidates gain support from Asian American voters, San Francisco’s Republican Party is targeting more moderate members of the community and seeking new blood. Republicans see Asian Americans as an opportunity to reinvigorate a party that makes up just 8% of San Francisco’s electorate, with Asian Americans receiving lower support from Republicans than Democrats at 64%.
Since the pandemic, the number of Asian immigrants in the city registering as Republicans has soared by 60%, driven by concerns about crime and public education. In March, members of the Briones Association swept the Republican Board of Governors elections, ushering in a wave of moderate change. The top two winners were Chinese Americans, including Yang.
“This is just the beginning,” Yang said. “If we want real change, we need a long-term plan.”
