Harris Surpasses Trump in Popularity Among AAPI Voters, Survey Shows

Recent polling indicates that Vice President Kamala Harris has a more favorable standing among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) registered voters compared to former President Donald Trump. The survey reveals that AAPI voters are inclined to believe Harris better reflects their cultural background and policy preferences.

According to the latest survey conducted by AAPI Data and APIAVote, approximately 60% of AAPI voters hold either a very or somewhat favorable opinion of Harris. In contrast, about one-third of AAPI voters view Trump positively, while nearly two-thirds have an unfavorable view of him. This marks an uptick in Harris’s favorability since October 2023, when a previous poll showed that roughly half of AAPI adults viewed her favorably, indicating a shift in perception among these voters.

Harris, who is both Black and South Asian American, has made concerted efforts to engage AAPI voters in pivotal states like Georgia, where their population is on the rise. While the poll suggests that many AAPI voters see more of their cultural identity mirrored in Harris than in Trump, the extent to which this perception influences their voting decisions remains unclear. About half of AAPI voters believe Harris represents their cultural background better than Trump, who garnered just about 10% of such sentiments from AAPI voters.

Interestingly, around 30% of AAPI voters indicate that Harris’s Asian Indian identity is extremely or very important to their perspective. However, this connection varies among different groups within the AAPI community. Notably, 70% of Asian Indian adults view Harris as a candidate who resonates more with their background, which is a significantly higher proportion than the overall AAPI demographic.

Ping Hackl, a 27-year-old Chinese American independent voter from Tulsa, Oklahoma, plans to support Harris, but clarifies that her decision isn’t based on the candidate’s race or gender. Hackl expresses concern about the defense of democracy and the potential for political violence, emphasizing that she perceives Trump as a significant danger to the nation.

The poll also shows that Harris’s gender may resonate more with AAPI voters than her racial identity. Despite her campaign’s relative reticence in highlighting the historical aspect of her potentially becoming the first female president, nearly half of AAPI women voters regard her identity as a woman as extremely or very important to their voting decisions. AAPI women demonstrate a stronger connection to their Asian or Asian American background than their male counterparts, showing heightened awareness of their identities as people of color. Young AAPI voters in particular are increasingly attuned to Harris’s identity as a woman, underlining the importance of representation.

Christine Chen, the executive director of APIAVote, noted an uptick in organization and activism among young people and AAPI women, who are creating affinity groups to support Harris. Initiatives like “South Asians for Women” and “Asian Americans for Harris” reflect this mobilization, signaling a shift in AAPI voter engagement.

The survey suggests that AAPI voters are being more actively approached by Democratic organizers. Approximately 40% reported being contacted by the Democratic Party “a great deal” or “some” over the past year, compared to about 30% for the Republican Party, illustrating a notable difference in outreach efforts.

The issue of racism remains a critical topic for AAPI voters. Recent comments by Trump and Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance, which echoed negative stereotypes about Asian Americans, have not gone unnoticed. In fact, around 70% of AAPI voters stated that they “could not ever” support a candidate who does not align with them on issues of racism or discrimination, positioning these concerns as significant dealbreakers in their voting decisions, even more so than economic issues.

However, not every AAPI voter is opposed to Trump. Jihua Ma, a 45-year-old naturalized citizen from China living in Boston, identifies as a Republican and backs Trump based on what she considers practical leadership. Ma acknowledges Trump’s abrasive personality but prioritizes effective governance over likability, expressing dissatisfaction with Harris’s policy proposals regarding inflation and border control.

Despite the apparent gap in support for candidates, Trump’s influence among AAPI voters remains a possibility. Analysts suggest that the Republican Party could gain traction on issues such as the economy and crime, areas where Harris has attempted to counter criticism through policy proposals. The evolving dynamics of support indicate that every vote counts as the election approaches.

Source: AP