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SCREEN CAPTURE
John Santos is interviewed by Baliitang America TV about his recent appointment. |
Recognizing the critical role Asian American and Pacific Islander voters will play in the 2020 elections, the Democratic National Committee has named a veteran political and media specialist as its liaison with AAPI communities.
John Santos was promoted to be the Asian American Pacific Islander Political Director. He was named to his new position along with African American Political Director Cyrus Garrett, and Native American Political Director Theresa Sheldon.
The trio join previously named hires Rural Political Director Libby Schneider, Labor Political Director Tucker McDonald, and Interfaith Outreach Director Dr. Derrick Harkins.
“Diversity and inclusion have always been the strength of our Democratic coalition,” said DNC Chair Tom Perez. “Now more than ever we will need a strong team that can harness the energy and excitement in our base communities to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. I am confident that the team we are building at the DNC is ready to build the coalitions we need heading into one of the most important elections of our lifetimes.”
In his new position, Santos will develop and promote the DNC’s outreach efforts to AAPI communities.
“To me, it’s all about how do we mobilize the community, right? How do we make sure Asian Americans, Filipino Americans, are voting? And what I see is the DNC right now is the party that’s really committed to doing that,” Santos told Balitang America.
He will also serve as the liaison to the Veterans and Military Families Council. Most recently, he served as the DNC’s Western Regional Press Secretary and AAPI Media Director. Previously, he served in the U.S. Army as the Deputy Press Secretary for the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve during a year-long deployment in Kuwait and Iraq. Additionally, he previously served as the Health Policy Assistant Director for the American Legion and Chair for Communications at KAYA: Filipino Americans for Progress.
Politicians rarely target their outreach toward Asian Americans. Compared to the national average of 53 percent, only 31 percent of Asian Americans reported being contacted by candidates or parties in 2012.
The 2018 midterm elections that the Democratic National Committee invested heavily in the Asian Americans, said Santos. He said the DNC registered Asian Americans to vote, ran in-language print ads and put Asian American organizers on the ground in competitive congressional districts such as traditionally conservative Orange County in California.
Based on the results, Santos said these efforts “paid off.”
In the 2014 midterm elections, 49 percent of Asian American voters backed a Democratic House candidate, according to exit polls. In 2016, 65 percent chose Hillary Clinton over Trump. By the 2018 midterms, that number shot up to 77 percent.
That voting trend could have massive implications for 2020: Not only are they one of the fastest-growing voter demographics, they’re also an increasingly pivotal one in battleground states like Virginia, Nevada, and Arizona.
According to AAPI Data, Asian American voters already make up more than 10 percent of the eligible voting population in California and Hawaii, and more than 5 percent in a slew of other states including Nevada, New Jersey, and New York.
“Building a team that reflects the diverse coalition that we need to win back the White House and the Senate is one of our priorities,” said DNC Political Director Muthoni Wambu Kraal. “I am proud of the diversity of our staff, and we are lucky to have Taylor, John, Cyrus, Theresa, Libby, Tucker, and Derrick leading our efforts in laying the groundwork to victory in 2020.”
He will also serve as the liaison to the Veterans and Military Families Council. Most recently, he served as the DNC’s Western Regional Press Secretary and AAPI Media Director. Previously, he served in the U.S. Army as the Deputy Press Secretary for the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve during a year-long deployment in Kuwait and Iraq. Additionally, he previously served as the Health Policy Assistant Director for the American Legion and Chair for Communications at KAYA: Filipino Americans for Progress.
Politicians rarely target their outreach toward Asian Americans. Compared to the national average of 53 percent, only 31 percent of Asian Americans reported being contacted by candidates or parties in 2012.
The 2018 midterm elections that the Democratic National Committee invested heavily in the Asian Americans, said Santos. He said the DNC registered Asian Americans to vote, ran in-language print ads and put Asian American organizers on the ground in competitive congressional districts such as traditionally conservative Orange County in California.
Based on the results, Santos said these efforts “paid off.”
In the 2014 midterm elections, 49 percent of Asian American voters backed a Democratic House candidate, according to exit polls. In 2016, 65 percent chose Hillary Clinton over Trump. By the 2018 midterms, that number shot up to 77 percent.
Asian American voters have been trending Democratic even more under Trump, even though 40% of the voters are not registered with either party. Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies have pushed turned off the AAPI electorate, the majority of which is still first and second generation immigrants.
According to AAPI Data, Asian American voters already make up more than 10 percent of the eligible voting population in California and Hawaii, and more than 5 percent in a slew of other states including Nevada, New Jersey, and New York.
“Building a team that reflects the diverse coalition that we need to win back the White House and the Senate is one of our priorities,” said DNC Political Director Muthoni Wambu Kraal. “I am proud of the diversity of our staff, and we are lucky to have Taylor, John, Cyrus, Theresa, Libby, Tucker, and Derrick leading our efforts in laying the groundwork to victory in 2020.”
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