Asian American and Pacific Islander Voters Poised to Make a Significant Impact on Super Tuesday

States with Large Asian American Populations Going to the Polls

Release by APIAVote.org

WASHINGTON, DC — Super Tuesday’s primaries and caucuses on February 5 will feature states with significant Asian American Pacific Islander populations. A number of states heading to the polls have considerable numbers of Asian American and Pacific Islander voters, including: California, New Jersey and New York.

“Asian Americans and Pacific Islander voters will play a key role on Super Tuesday,” said Vida Benavides, Chair of APIA Vote. “In these unpredictable races, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have the ability to impact the vote.”

Nationwide, approximately 7 million Asian American Pacific Islanders are eligible to vote, and close to 3.5 million have registered to vote. Nearly 3 million Asian American and Pacific Islander voters cast ballots in the last presidential election.

High concentrations of Asian American and Pacific Islander voters can make a big difference in delegate-rich states:

California (available delegates: 441 Democratic, 173 Republican) – Home to 2nd largest population of Asian Americans in the U.S. More than 75% of Asian American Pacific Islanders are U.S. citizens.

Illinois (available delegates: 185 Democratic, 70 Republican) – The Asian American voting population more than doubled between 2004 and 2006. In Chicago’s Cook County, Asian Americans account for 6% of all voters.

Minnesota (available delegates: 88 Democratic, 41 Republican) – Asian Americans make up 7% of the Minneapolis population and 13% of the St. Paul population. More than half of the state’s Korean, Filipino and Vietnamese immigrants have become naturalized citizens.

New Jersey (available delegates: 127 Democratic, 52 Republican) – Asian Americans comprise close to 8% of the state population. In Middlesex County, Asian Americans make up 18% of the voting population.

New York (available delegates: 281 Democratic, 101 Republican) – New York City is home to more Asian American Pacific Islanders than any other city in the U.S. 84% of Asian Americans voters in New York cast ballots in the 2004 election.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders currently make up more than 5% of the U.S. population and are the nation’s fastest growing group. By 2050, Asians are expected to grow 213% to 33.4 million.

“Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are part of the electoral equation,” said Benavides. “The community’s voice will definitely be heard in electing the next President of the United States.”

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Super Tuesday Fact Sheets (PDF)

• At a Glance: AAPIs in the United States
• 109th Congress: Top 100 Congressional Districts with Highest Population of Asian American
• Citizens of Voting Age At a Glance: AAPIs in California
• At a Glance: AAPIs in Illinois
• At a Glance: AAPIs in Massachussetts
• At a Glance: AAPIs in Minnesota
• At a Glance: AAPIs in New York
• At a Glance: AAPIs in New Jersey

Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that encourages and promotes civic participation of Asian Pacific Islander Americans in the electoral and public policy processes at the national, state and local levels. More information about APIAVote is available at http://www.apiavote.org.