“Let’s conduct a survey,” said Donald Trump during a campaign event in Las Vegas two weeks before the November 5 election. This event was geared towards Asian-American voters in Nevada, a crucial state in the election battle.
The former president posed the question, “Which do you prefer more?” referring to various tax exemptions like tips, overtime, and social security. The crowd’s applause was loudest when he mentioned tax cuts on social security.
“It’s remarkable how seniors always triumph,” said the septuagenarian candidate, who concluded the rally with a mock golf swing as the Village People’s “YMCA” echoed through the speakers.
In a surprising turn of events, Trump won Nevada by a three-point margin, making it a Republican stronghold after two decades. But, did Asian-American voters have a significant role in this victory?
According to a Washington Post report, exit poll results showed that 61% of Asian voters in Nevada chose Trump, while only 38% sided with Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party’s candidate. Among all ethnic groups in the state, former President Trump received the highest support from Asian-Americans, even surpassing white voters, who are typically the Republican base, by seven points.
As the most significant Asian subgroup in Nevada, Filipino-American voters may have been instrumental in the “red wave” that swept the state. Although the Filipino community in the U.S. has traditionally supported the Democratic Party, an AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) election survey from September hinted at their growing disillusionment with both parties.
Around 30% of the respondents identified as independents, a 6% increase from 2020. Filipino voters cited housing costs, crime rates, and social security as key issues influencing their voting decisions.
Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old activist and the head of Turning Point Action, a conservative youth organization, saw the community’s growing non-partisan inclination as a potential opportunity for the Republican Party. He stated, “This group is perfectly positioned to strongly resonate with President Trump’s message of economic empowerment, law and order, safe streets, and a return to systematic, sensible immigration policies.”
Both campaigns made a conscious effort to engage the Filipino community. At the Turning Point rally, Trump acknowledged the presence of many “remarkable Nevada Filipinos.” Meanwhile, the Harris campaign emphasized heritage and culture, erecting billboards with the Tagalog greeting, “Mabuhay!”
Jose Manuel Romualdez, the Philippines’ ambassador to the U.S., noted in an interview with ABS-CBN News that there was a significant support for President Trump in Nevada. Many Filipino-American voters, he observed, were not hesitant in expressing their desire for Trump’s return to the White House.
Romualdez highlighted that Filipino voters are “conservative in their thinking.” The older generation of immigrants, many of whom are practicing Catholics, align with the Republican Party’s stance on abortion.
Trump’s stance on illegal immigration resonated with naturalized Filipinos who are reluctant to validate the status of undocumented workers from their homeland. Romualdez advised Filipinos without a secure path to citizenship to voluntarily leave the U.S., as deportation would mean a permanent ban on their return.
The Nevada Independent, a non-partisan outlet, opined in an article titled “Anatomy of a red wave – How Trump won Nevada” that Trump’s message was more straightforward and more appealing than Harris’s. At the rally, Trump brought up daily concerns like the rising cost of groceries, a topic that resonated with many.
Trump’s proposal to abolish taxes on Social Security benefits found favor with Filipino-Americans nationwide. A first-time voter from Oklahoma expressed her admiration for Trump’s concern for the elderly. She viewed the tax break on Social Security as beneficial, especially since her retirement benefits were due the following year.
However, a Republican lawmaker hinted at potential cuts to federal spending a month after the election, implying that neither Social Security nor Medicare costs would be exempted from budget discussions.
In an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times, James Zarsadiaz, a historian at the University of San Francisco and Director of the Yuchengco Philippine Studies Program, wrote: “The 2024 election results make it clear: The Asian American electorate has leaned further right.”
