Election costs continue to rise, and outcomes are increasingly close. Experts and campaign strategists often search for new tactics to secure Democratic victories. However, they often ignore an essential and growing voter base: Asian American voters. In states such as Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, Asian Americans who voted in 2020 and 2024 outnumbered the presidential victory margins in these states.
As the 2026 midterms approach, failing to engage with Asian American voters could have significant consequences for Democrats. In the 2020 election, Asian American voters played a crucial role in President Biden’s victories in key states. For instance, in Georgia, Asian American voter turnout increased by nearly 62,000 between 2016 and 2020, helping Biden win the state by fewer than 12,000 votes. In Nevada, their votes increased by 66% from 2016, and in Arizona by 58%, contributing to victories with close margins.
However, from 2020 to 2024, support for the Democratic candidate among Asian Americans declined. Former President Trump gained 10 points among Asian voters. The communities that were vital in securing Biden’s win in Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada did not turn out in similar numbers in 2024 due to reduced grassroots investment.
It is crucial to recognize the diversity within the Asian American electorate. This group includes various ethnicities, languages, backgrounds, and experiences. From Filipino families in California and Samoan communities in Nevada, to Hmong immigrants in Minnesota and Korean Americans in Georgia, reaching them requires tailored and multilingual outreach.
Asian American voters are often reliable Democratic supporters. Yet, they frequently feel overlooked by the party and its campaigns. In a polarized political environment where slim margins decide statewide races, Asian Americans, who represent 3% to 12% of the electorate in several key states, can be a significant advantage or a missed opportunity.
In states like Nevada and Arizona, Asian American voters comprise a substantial portion of the electorate and showed significant turnout increases, reaching 48% in battleground states. Despite this, political campaigns often disregard their importance. AAPI Data’s survey showed that 42% of Asian American voters were not contacted by major parties or candidates in 2024.
The Asian American Power Network operates in 12 states, including Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and North Carolina. The organization emphasizes the necessity of continuous community engagement to ensure that Asian American voters play a pivotal role in elections. Relying solely on last-minute outreach strategies has proven ineffective.
Looking back to 2020, Democrats spent twice as much as Republicans on Spanish-language media in Florida. However, the majority of that spending occurred in the campaign’s final weeks, allowing Republicans ample time to establish their message. Even top Democrats have noted the need for more substantial investment in Black voter engagement, which was lacking by 2024.
Asian American voters consistently prove crucial in election outcomes, as statistics and results show. It is imperative to invest in Asian American communities now to avoid the consequences of their absence at the polls. The Democratic Party must learn from past mistakes to secure future victories. The importance of engaging Asian American voters cannot be underestimated.