FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 20, 2022
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jimmy Patel-Nguyen | 919.335.6156 | jimmy@ncaat.org
Chavi Khanna Koneru | 919-949-9184 | chavi@ncaat.org
New poll from NC Asian Americans Together reveals candidates in the battleground state of North Carolina have overlooked a powerful voting bloc
Asian American voters could be key to deciding the margin of victory in races across the NC ballot
RALEIGH, NC — With an estimated 216,000 AAPI voters in the state, the Asian American electorate in North Carolina has the potential to influence election outcomes this year. In toss-up races where state and federal candidates must fight for every vote, many campaigns have overlooked the fastest-growing racial demographic in the state. A new poll from North Carolina Asian Americans Together (NCAAT) and UC San Diego’s U.S. Immigration Policy Center has found that only 39% of AAPI voters have been contacted by any political party about this year’s election.
Conducted between September 14 and September 28, the poll is the first ever to gauge Asian American voter attitudes for midterm elections in North Carolina. Poll results are available here: www.ncaat.org/poll2022
“Asian American voters have the power to win midterm elections for candidates who connect with us on the issues we care about,” says Chavi Khanna Koneru, Executive Director of NCAAT and NCAAT in Action. “This July, Mario Benevente became the first Korean American City Council member in North Carolina. He won his election by just six votes. In a state where razor-thin margins win major elections, candidates who connect with and address the needs of Asian American constituents could see similar election success this year and beyond.”
The poll found that, like most Americans, Asian American voters consider Medicare for all (38%) and reducing prescription drug prices (38%) as their top public health concerns. Respondents also said their top public safety concerns include hate crimes against people of color (43%) and common sense gun control (43%). In addition to limited contact from political parties, 80% of Asian American voters who speak a language other than English at home report never receiving election material in their native language.
Since 2016, NCAAT has been committed to increasing Asian American voter turnout statewide. Ahead of election day on November 8, we are encouraging our community to show up at the polls via the following methods:
- Delivering 740,000 multilingual mailers
- Knocking on 6,500 doors
- Making 114,100 phone calls
- Sending 38,400 text messages
- Hosting a multilingual voter hotline in over 20 languages
- Educating voters by creating and distributing multilingual infographics about the N.C. General Assembly, N.C. Supreme Court, and the role of sheriffs
As the fastest-growing racial demographic in a battleground state and a mostly politically unaffiliated electorate, Asian Americans can be key to deciding the margin of victory in races across the ballot.
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Media Contact:
Jimmy Patel-Nguyen | 919.335.6156 | jimmy@ncaat.org
Chavi Khanna Koneru | 919-949-9184 | chavi@ncaat.org
North Carolina Asian Americans Together (NCAAT) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization committed to supporting equity and justice for all by fostering community among AAPIs and allies in North Carolina through civic engagement, leadership development, grassroots mobilization, and political participation. Learn more at www.ncaatogether.org
Facebook – facebook.com/ncaatogether | Twitter – @ncaatogether | Instagram – @ncaatogether
NCAAT in Action is committed to supporting equity and justice for all by building political power among Asian Americans and allies in North Carolina through voter education, progressive advocacy and leadership development. Learn more at www.ncaatinaction.org
Facebook – facebook.com/ncaatinaction | Twitter – @ncaatinaction | Instagram – @ncaatinaction
