I grew up in California and spent most of my adult life in Washington, D.C., including stints on Capitol Hill and in the White House. But I relocated to Miami in 2020 where I wanted to pursue the next stages in my life and career.
My family immigrated from China. Americans who trace their heritage to Asia and the Pacific Islands are among the fastest growing demographic groups. Florida is no exception to that trend. That growing population is poised to have a major impact on the state’s economy and politics, which is why both political parties are seeking to make inroads with the voting bloc.
As a Republican, I believe the GOP needs to do a better job of appealing to Asian-American voters. The outreach needs to be stepped up now before the 2024 elections.
The number of Asian-Americans has doubled over the last two decades to about 24 million people, making it the fastest growing minority demographic group in the U.S.
In Florida, Asian-Americans are about 6 percent of the population, according to 2020 Census figures. That represents a significantly smaller percentage than the state’s Latino (18.7 percent) and African-American (12.4 percent) communities. But in a tightly fought contest for the White House or Congress even a few thousand votes can change the outcome. For example, the 2018 U.S. Senate race in Florida was decided by just 10,000 votes out of 8.2 million votes cast statewide.
The 2024 election is likely to be just as close and hard-fought in a battleground state like Florida.
The term Asian-American describes a diverse population that includes people who trace their family lines to China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, the Indian subcontinent, or dozens of other countries and Pacific islands. These are distinctive ethnic communities that share an interest in a strong economy. Asian-Americans are noted for their entrepreneurial streak and desire for safe neighborhoods.
Such quality-of-life issues present the greatest opportunity for Republicans to reach Asian-American voters, because Democratic leadership has failed there. Under President Biden, inflation and the threat of recession remain high. Meritocracy in public education has been undermined, which rankles Asian-American families. So do rising crime and social instability, which have been notably pronounced in blue states and cities.
A recently enacted Florida law restricting ownership of land by foreign nationals linked to the Chinese Communist Party has generated a lot of media coverage. But the controversy is likely overblown. The law is a national security measure that focuses on individuals with ties to the Chinese Communist Party not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. Moreover, the law places restrictions on property ownership by citizens of other countries with a history of hostility toward the United States, including Russia, North Korea, and Venezuela. It is unlikely to have much impact on Asian-American voting patterns in 2024 as a result.
But the controversy reminds Florida Republicans about the importance of careful outreach and communication to the Asian-American community, particularly since Asian-Americans have tended to vote Democratic at the national level in recent elections. In 2020, Joe Biden won more than 60 percent of the Asian-American vote nationwide, a commanding margin that helped cement his victory.
But that trend isn’t set in stone and the Biden administration’s missteps on the economy and public safety offer Republicans an opportunity to present a strong case to Asian-American voters. Improved outreach and targeted messaging to those communities centered around the quality-of-life issues are essential. May is National Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. This is therefore a good time for Republicans to look closely at how they can strengthen their relationship with this growing constituency.
Joseph Lai of Miami served as White House special assistant for legislative affairs from 2017 to 2019 and is a principal at BGR Group, a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying and communications firm.
Read Full Article »