What We Accomplished in the 2018 Midterm Elections
In 2018, we launched Asian Americans Against Trumpism and helped flip three Congressional districts with sizeable Asian American populations in the conservative stronghold of Orange County, California: CA-39, CA-45, and CA-48 by reaching out to neglected voters through Asian language media. In those areas, Asian Americans comprise 17 to 29 percent of the population.
Half of all Asian American voters consume Asian language media, yet none of the California Democratic House candidates planned to make significant Asian language ad buys. By creating and running ads in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean language newspapers, TV, and social media, we reached voters who are typically overlooked.
When the dust settled, all three districts flipped from red to blue by razor thin margins — decimating the Republican party in Orange County in a historic sweep. Every vote mattered.
To all of you who donated your ideas, time, and hard-earned cash. Thank you so much for all your support! This is just the beginning. We have more work to do.
Read more about the 2018 California midterm election here on npr.org:
Democrats Demolish The 'Orange Curtain' In Orange County
Press & Media
New York Times - How Fake News Is Hatching in Immigrant Communities
Right-wing conspiracy theories are reaching Asian and Latino voters through platforms like WeChat, KakaoTalk and WhatsApp. Democrats must take notice.
Vox - The challenge of combating fake news in Asian American communities
Language diversity within the AAPI community means misinformation is difficult to track.
Associated Press - Trump debate comment pushing Black Americans, Others to Vote
Trump’s comments in his debate with Democratic challenger Joe Biden were a harsh reminder that the nation has yet to fully grapple with systemic racism laid bare this year
NBC News - Andrew Yang: Helping Biden Win Could be an Asian American ‘political awakening’
During a fundraiser Monday hosted by the Asian Americans Against Trump project, Yang said on a panel of prominent Asian Americans that the racial group could experience a “major political awakening.”
Business Insider - Andrew Yang says defeating Trump could be ‘the major political awakening that Asian Americans have been waiting for’
Andrew Yang along with prominent leaders in the Asian American community rallied voters to defeat Trump in a virtual fundraiser event.
Mochi Magazine - Debunking every myth about the Asian American Vote
After seeing how the 2018 midterm election campaigns neglected AAPI communities, Asian Americans Against Trump banded together to reach out to voters and flip swing states to vote blue.