ELECTIONS 2026: Today is the day. VOTE!

Today, is election day in the United States. If you haven't done so already, go out and vote. It is you are a citizen right, your duty. Your vote matters.

There are almost 17 million AAPI eligible voters in the U.S., and 90% say they plan to vote during midterm elections, according to a survey conducted by AAPI Data.

AAPI voters have the “potential to exceed the margin of victory in these closely contested races,” said Christine Chen, Executive Director of APIAVote. “That only means that we have to increase participation to make sure that we have a meaningful impact on who actually wins.”

In California, voting has been happening for weeks without any incidents. Casting one's ballot has been easy to vote by mail or by secure ballot boxes

However, tthat's not the case everywhere, especially in states controlled by Reppublican administrations. There are barriers and many levels to AAPI voting. Understanding AAPI communities requires considering their diverse immigration histories, languages, socioeconomic circumstances, generations in the U.S. and political experiences.

According to Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder and director of AAPI Data, all the signs of voter turnout points to a record-setting year for Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

But there is a difference between the intent to vote and the reality of voting, Ramakrishnan said during an Oct. 16 news briefing held by American Community Media.

“First, you can’t understand our communities without understanding the language needs in our communities.” Ramakrishnan further explained that “Asian Americans actually have slightly higher language needs than the Latino population.”

In understanding who will vote, he said there’s not a lot of difference in gender, but in age and generation.

“Younger AAPI’s are more likely to favor the Democratic candidate,” Ramakrishnan explained the survey. Youth turnout, in general, not just in the AAPI communities tend to be lower in midterm elections.

In media interviews, Trump has repeatedly stated that "there is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting," raising concerns among advocates that entitlement programs could face future trims or structural changes.

RELATED: What AAPI voters are saying about the Midterms

“Voter turnout among adults 50-plus, including Asian American and Pacific Islanders, continues to outpace other age groups every election season,” said Daphne Kwok, Vice President of Multicultural Leadership for AAPI Audience Strategy at AARP.

In national surveys conducted by AAPI Data, APIAVote, and AARP, 93% of Asian American voters age 50-plus, the demographic most likely to vote, rated health care access and affordability as an essential election issue followed closely by concern about the future of Social Security under Trump, who has sided with those who want to reduce supporting the social safety net policies.

In August, AARP launched “Protect Voters 50+,” a comprehensive voter engagement campaign to help Americans 50-plus vote safely, whether at home or in-person, provide them with information they need about this year’s elections. In addition, AARP has teamed up with APIAVote, a leading nonprofit organization that mobilizes the AAPI community in every election cycle to ensure the group is educated about the issues and deadlines so that their votes count.

FYI: View the full results from The Harris Poll and the AAVS Survey. For additional community and voter resources, visit aarp.org/AAPI and aarp.org/Election2020.

Some of the key findings from these surveys include:

• AAPI voters age 50-plus are highly engaged in this election. Nearly 8 in 10 (79%) registered voters are absolutely certain they will vote in the midterm elections this November, and 44% are more enthusiastic than usual about voting this year.

• The top priority for AAPI voters age 50-plus when deciding how to vote is the cost of living and inflation. Day-to-day affordability is extremely important in deciding the vote for 57% of AAPI voters 50-plus, and another 33% rate it as very important.

• AAPI voters age 50-plus strongly support protecting Social Security and Medicare. Eighty-seven percent say Social Security and Medicare are important factors in how they vote (55% say “extremely” important), and 89% agree that elected leaders should ensure workers receive the Social Security benefits they have already paid into. 

• Nearly half (47%) of all AAPI voters 50-plus and 62% of those over 65 say Social Security is either currently a major source of income for their household or is expected to be in the future.Health care affordability remains a major concern. 

• Nearly two-thirds of AAPI voters 50-plus (65%) identify health care as one of the most difficult expenses for their household to afford, while 69% are extremely or very concerned about rising health care costs in the coming year. A majority (51%) worry often about not being able to cover an unexpected medical expense.Concerns about health coverage and access are widespread. 

• Nearly 6 in 10 (59%) are concerned about losing health insurance, while 56% worry about being unable to access care when needed.Caregiving is both a personal and policy concern for older AAPI voters. 

• Nearly one-third (32%) identify as family caregivers, mostly for older or aging family members. Seven in 10 (70%) support stronger federal policies for unpaid family caregivers, and 69% say they would be more likely to support a candidate who backs a tax credit for working family caregivers.Fraud and financial security remain concerns.

• Nearly half (46%) worry very often or somewhat often about losing money to fraud or scams.Housing, food, and caregiving costs add to financial strain. In addition to health care, many AAPI voters 50-plus identify housing or rent (53%), food and groceries (47%), and caring for aging family members (28%) as difficult expenses to afford.

• For AANHPI communities, safety-net programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security aren't political bargaining chips—they are the foundation of family stability across generations. Proposals that curtail funding, restrict eligibility, or repeal coverage protections risk pushing financial vulnerability directly onto working families and elders who have spent a lifetime contributing to their communities.

View from the Edge: Stand up and vote

While the largest AAPI populations continue to be in states like New York, California, Texas and Hawaii, other states across the country have seen their AAPI populations more than double over the last two decades. Nevada has seen a full 167% increase in the AAPI population since 2000. Arizona grew by 157%, and North Carolina by 154% in that same period.

The demographic shift isn't coming—it’s already here. From the rapidly expanding AAPI voting blocs across Nevada, Texas, Georgia Arizona, and North Carolina to established strongholds in California , Hawaii and New York, our growing presence is reshaping the political landscape. But numbers alone don't secure our future; turnout does.

When 90% of eligible AAPI voters express the intent to hit the polls, the potential to swing elections and hold lawmakers accountable is undeniable. Whether it's shielding Medicare and Social Security from the chopping block, tackling inflation, or advocating for tax relief for our family caregivers, the stakes directly hit our households and cross-generational communities.

Overcoming structural hurdles — from language accessibility to state-level voting restrictions — requires us to convert high enthusiasm into actual ballots cast. Younger voters need to make their voices heard, and older voters must continue leading the charge at the ballot box.

Don't let others decide who represents your family's interests. Check your registration, help your elders navigate the ballot, and ensure our collective voice is heard loud and clear this election.

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.

Nalalie Nakase breaks down barriers stereotypes on the way to the WNBA championship

Natalie Nakase, coach of the WNBA champion Golden State Valkaries.

At 5'2", Natalie Nakase is standing tall after coaching the Golden State Valkyries to the WNBA championship.

The Golden State Valkyries won the 2026 WNBA Championship after Saturday’s 68-63 win over the Atlanta Dream in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco.

Her landmark victory isn't just an expansion-team miracle — it is the culmination of a career built on shattering ceilings, defying doubt, and cementing her place in Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) sports history. 

 "This is for all the people that have been underrated, misunderstood; this is for all of y'all because these are proof that if you put all your heart and all your soul, you can f****** win championships!" says Nakase, 46, after the championship game, letting F-bombs fly as she celebrated the historic victory.

Breaking barriers

Nakase’s rise was never paved with early guarantees. Turning down scholarship offers from smaller programs, she arrived at UCLA as a walk-on point guard. Through sheer determination and relentless preparation, she not only earned a spot on the roster but pushed her way into the starting lineup, ultimately becoming a three-year team captain and guiding the Bruins to two NCAA Tournament appearances.

When her playing days moved beyond college, Nakase continued to pioneer space for Asian American athletes. She became the first Asian American player in the National Women's Basketball League (NWBL) before an injury forced a transition off the court.

Refusing to be kept away from the game, she pivoted to coaching abroad. In Japan, she volunteered as an assistant for the Tokyo Apache before taking over the Saitama Broncos—becoming the first female head coach in the history of Japan’s top men's professional basketball league (the bj league).

Driven by her dream to reach the highest levels of American basketball, Nakase returned to the US and took a low-level internship with the Los Angeles Clippers. Working her way up from video coordinator to assistant coach for the Clippers' NBA Summer League and G League teams, she broke ground as one of the few female coaches on an NBA bench.

She eventually brought that tactical wealth to the WNBA as an assistant for the Las Vegas Aces under Becky Hammon, contributing to back-to-back championship runs in 2022 and 2023.

Making AANHPI History

When the expansion Golden State Valkyries named Nakase their inaugural head coach two years ago, she became the first Asian American head coach in WNBA history.

Leading a team made up of cast-offs, players the existing teams viewed as expendable, Nakase guided the team to the playoffs in the team's first year. She made her players feel wanted and created a culture of family and love and an environment of trust in their teammates.

With the Valkaries' victory, they became the the fastest expansion team in major North American sports history to win a championship by achieving the WNBA title in just two years.

Her historic championship run with Golden State marks another historic milestone: Nakase is the first Asian American head coach to lift the WNBA trophy, giving young AAPI athletes and aspiring coaches a visible blueprint of excellence at the highest level of professional sports.

Her father's influence

Nakase credits her approach to leadership to her father, whose generosity and commitment to helping others have influenced the way she builds relationships and instills confidence in her players.

"It's just helping people, as simple as that sounds. My dad, any person that he met, whether it's on the street or me and my family, he always wanted to help in any way."

"So, he had a bunch of energy. He ate, and he slept really good in order to make sure he could provide as much love and care, and he loved to build confidence in people, and I'm just trying to do the same."

She says her father, who was born in an detention camp during WWII,  is also responsible for the way Nakase coaches.

"He would give me the head nod of approval," Nakase said. "My dad wouldn't say anything. The head nod just means he's proud of me. He's the reason why I'm built the way I am. I am crazy. I am obsessive. I am a workaholic. But it's more just pouring into people, believing in people, helping people, that's all come from my dad."

Her work ethic to comes frm her late father and her upbringing in Southern California’s Japanese American basketball leagues (such as the SEI league). Historically, these leagues were created precisely because Japanese Americans were excluded from mainstream athletic programs. 

Her transition from an insular, community-built league to the pinnacle of global sports validating the institutional resilience, values, and athletic heritage of those historic community spaces.

Natalie Nakase, wearing black, celebrates with her players after the Valkaries win the WNBA title.

View from the Edge: What's next?

Historically, Asian Americans in the United States face systemic underrepresentation in professional sports leadership, often hemmed in by stereotypes that paint them as technically proficient but lacking the "assertiveness" or "vocal authority" required for head coaching. 

By leading with high accountability, tactical grit, and a "tough love" style, she has proven that Asian American women possess the commanding leadership necessary to build a championship culture from scratch.

Alongside NBA figures like Erik Spoelstra (who is Filipino American), Nakase is actively building a modern community through organizations like the Asian Coaches Association. Her success helps solidify a professional network, turning what used to be isolated anomalies into a visible, growing community of Asian American sports executives and coaches who can open doors for the next generation

Nakase acknowledges the toll the season has taken on her. At one point in the first playoff series against Dallas, she collapsed on the floor in ghe middle of an interview and needed assistance back to the bench. She promises to take a week off but her drive to win another championship remains strong.

However, she also said she wants to pursue another title. She told The Athletic, “I’m ready for the next. I already started thinking about we gotta get another one. This feeling, it’s like a drug. When you win, you just feel so good. Obviously, when the season comes around, I want to do this again.”