ELECTION 2026: AANHPI voters show up at the polls in a big way, favor a new Voting Rights Act

In an election that made it absolutely clear, Asian Americans joined the Blue Tsunamii that voted against Donald Trump and his policies that threatened democracy.

Going beyond the obvious reasons Americans overwhelmingly voted against Trump — the faltering economy, the war in Iran, Asian Americans Advancing Justice— AAJC and Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) released findings from their 2026 Midterm Election Voter Poll on November 5, revealing an overwhelming call from AAPI voters for a new Voting Rights Act and major democratic reforms.

“What stands out in these findings is the breadth of support for policies that help people participate fully in our democracy,” said Taeku Lee, director of AAPI polling at BSP Research. “Seventy-nine percent of AAPI voters support a new Voting Rights Act, 77% support language assistance for voters, and 89% support immigration changes that include pathways to citizenship and for families. Together, these findings put access, opportunity, and family unity at the center of the priorities AAPI voters are expressing.”

The data highlights a profound prioritization of civil rights, language access, and systemic equity as AAPI turnout continues to sustain post-2018 momentum—bolstered significantly by new and low-propensity voters.

Leaders from these national organizations are joined by researchers, experts, and leading scholars to discuss the issues AAPI voters said were most important to them as they voted in the midterm election.

Key Findings and Perspectives

• Democracy and Voting Rights: Nearly eight in ten AAPI voters (79%) support passing a new Voting Rights Act to eliminate voting barriers, while 77% favor expanding language translations and interpreters for those who struggle with English.

• Immigration Reform: An overwhelming 89% support pathways to citizenship and family unity, favoring enforcement models grounded in due process and fairness over punitive measures.

• Hate and Discrimination: Over half (57%) worry about government policies targeting communities based on identity, while 66% express concern that elected officials are failing to adequately condemn rising intolerance.

• The "Moveable Middle": Demonstrating political independence, AAPIs registered the second-largest partisan swing (9 points) from Republican to Democrat between 2024 and 2026, signaling that voters are driven by deliverables rather than party loyalty.

The poll website, 2026electionpoll.us, provides a detailed array of data, including crosstabs by state and race. The findings reveal how issues like voting rights and affordability influenced the vote choices of AAPI voters in the 2026 midterm election. The poll also includes oversamples of AAPI (n=2,000), Latino (n=3,050), Black (n=1,800), and Native American (n=1,400) voters.

“While the cost of living remains a central concern, Asian American voters showed up this midterm election with clear priorities to protect the freedom to vote of every voter, reform our immigration system, demand accountability for ICE actions, and addressing a rise in hate and discrimination against minority communities,” said John C. Yang, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC (Advancing Justice – AAJC).  

He continues: "Voters are rejecting abuses of power, demanding government accountability, and calling for policies that protect their families, their rights, and their communities.” 

View from the Edge

“These election results made clear that Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander voters stand firmly in solidarity with other communities of color. Any suggestion that our communities would serve as a wedge is entirely inaccurate and erases our shared struggle and political reality. We are in deep solidarity with our allied communities of color as we look to build our collective future,” Yang added.

AAPI voters are sustaining the higher turnout that started in 2018. This growth is being driven by new and low propensity voters with 1 in 3 AAPI voters last voting in 2022 or later and 1 in 8 AAPIs voting for the first time voters. We have also seen campaigns reach out more to our communities, but we know that these voters are not their primary target which is why APIAVote and our national network of trusted community based partners are a critical driver to AAPIs having their voices heard. 

This national call to fortify voting rights isn't happening in a vacuum — it is the direct reflection of a community realizing its political muscle at every level of government. The ballot box energy moving federal policy is turning heads right down to City Halls and County Boards. 

Look no further than Southern California, where Nithya Raman shattered historic ceilings to become the first Asian American (and first South Asian) mayor of Los Angeles. 

Up north, Daly City Councilmember Juslyn Cabrera Manalo took the fight to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, winning a seat as the county’s first Filipino American supervisor. 

For statewide offices, California's first Filipino American Attorney General, Rob Bonta, who in the early vetting, was considering a candidate for Governor, was an easy winner for reelection; Fiona Ma is leading in her bid to become Lt. Governor; and Jane Kim will take over the office of the Insurance commissioner.

From city halls to county seats and the halls of Congress, AANHPI communities are no longer settling for a seat at the table —t hey are pulling up their own chairs, writing the agenda, and proving that local grass-roots power is transforming democracy from the bottom up.

“Asian American and Pacific Islander voters continue to shape elections and are growing stronger by the year. One in four became first-time voters in recent years. Many are young people and new citizens — the first in their families to vote in this country,” said Christine Chen, executive director of Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote. 

"While AAPIs are not a monolith of identity, we are voting because we are unified on our policy priorities: affordability, cost of living, and civil rights under threat. Our message to elected leaders is clear: Don’t just court our votes; work with us and bring our community to the decision-making table.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, feel free to repost.