2010 Elections: the Asian American Vote and Candidates

By Laura Salinger

     It is once again that time to cast ballots for some important races that will affect local, state, and federal government. November 2
marks the day that will determine the future tone of our country and the progress that will be made. Regardless of party affiliation, it also
marks that wonderful time when, albeit small, everyone’s voice can be heard over the din of negative political ads and pundits.
So what role will Asian Americans play in the 2010 elections? According to a 2010 Gallup poll, Asian Americans, America’s fourth
largest racial/ethnic group, will be key players in the 2010 elections (as they were also slated to play a larger role than previously
thought in elections years past in the 2008 elections). The group wanting them to come out and vote the most? Democrats.
     The Gallup poll revealed that only 16 percent of Asian Americans politically identified themselves as Republicans compared to 41
percent who identified as Democrats. (Nationwide, 27 percent of Americans identify as Republicans and 34 percent identify as
Democrats.) Democrats, however, may bite their knuckles a little when looking at the 41 percent of Asian Americans who identify as
independents (37 percent nationwide identify as independents). When compared to other racial/ethnic groups, the Gallup concludes that
Asians are not as Democratic as blacks, a little more Democratic than Hispanics, and much more Democratic than whites.   
     Ideologically, Asian Americans are more likely to identify themselves as liberal than any other racial/ethnic group. They are also
more likely to identify as moderates. Exit poll numbers show that Asian Americans were twice as likely to support Pres. Barack Obama
then John McCain in the 2008 elections.
     In the end, of course, a poll is a poll and we can only wait-and-see (after voting that is) what the results will be.
What about Asian American candidates in the 2010 election and currently in government?
     On a federal level, it is clear that Asian Americans are currently underrepresented in Congress. A 2008 CRS report “Asian Pacific
Americans in the United States Congress,” which was prepared for Congress, states:
             “Nine Asian Pacific Americans served in the first session of the 110th Congress:
             two Senators, six Representatives, and one Delegate. With the resignation of one
             Representative at the beginning of the second session, eight Asian Pacific Americans
             currently serve in the 110th Congress. Of the 36 Asian Pacific Americans who have
             served in the United States Congress from 1903 to the present, there have been five
             Senators (three have also served in the House), 15 Representatives, six territorial
             Delegates, and 13 Resident Commissioners from the Philippine Islands. Resident
             Commissioners served from 1907-1946 while the Philippines was a U.S. territory and
             commonwealth (all were Philippine born). The ancestry of these Asian Pacific
             Americans has included Chinese, Chamorro, Filipino, Asian Indian, Japanese,
             Korean, Native Hawaiian, and Samoan. Of the 23 Asian Pacific Americans, 16 were
             Democrats and 7 were Republicans.”
     There are noticeable gains in these elections, however, that have people excited. Indian Americans are making a presence for
themselves in American politics as noted by headlines like “Indian Americans Gaining Clout in U.S. Politics” (politicsdaily) and high
profile races like that for South Carolina governor between Indian American Republican Nikki Haley and Democrat Vincent Sheheen.
As for major races in the 2010 elections, center-left think tank NDN breaks down the numbers of Asian American contenders:
     “Because Asian-Americans are relatively new on the political scene, theirs is one of two categories in which challengers equal or
outnumber incumbents. Out of 14 Asian-American candidates this year (1.5 percent of all candidates), seven are incumbents (1.4
Laura
Salinger is a
freelance
writer based
in Madison,
Wis.
percent of all incumbents) and seven are
challengers. By party, 10 (71.4 percent)
are Democrats and four (28.6 percent) are
Republicans. Among the seven Asian-
American incumbents, five (71.4 percent)
are Democrats and two (28.4 percent) are
Republicans. Unlike previous categories
in which Republican candidates had a
larger presence among challengers than
among incumbents, Asian-American
challengers follow the same patterns as
incumbents: five are Democrats and two
are Republicans.”