A recent poll conducted by AAPI Data and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicates a notable shift in political sentiment among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults. As the Nov. 3 midterm elections approach, trust in President Donald Trump and the Republican Party has diminished within this demographic, while Democrats have gained ground on critical issues such as the economy and healthcare.
The survey, which gathered data from Sept. 8-15, shows a significant drop in approval for President Trump's handling of the economy during what the poll describes as his second term. Approximately one-quarter of AAPI adults expressed overall approval of Trump's job performance, with only about 2 in 10 approving of his economic performance. This represents a roughly 10-percentage-point decrease in his economic approval among AAPI adults over the course of the year. Furthermore, a favorable view of Trump has fallen from about 4 in 10 AAPI adults in late 2024, just after the election, to approximately 3 in 10 currently. Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder and executive director of AAPI Data, noted that any gains made by Trump after the election have "now largely disappeared."
For AAPI adults, the economy remains the paramount concern for the upcoming elections. About 9 in 10 rank the economy as one of the most important issues, followed closely by the cost of living, which about 8 in 10 prioritize. Healthcare is also a major concern for about 7 in 10 AAPI adults. Other issues, including foreign policy, crime, immigration, election fairness, and climate change, are considered important by about half of the population surveyed.
While AAPI adults have grown more disillusioned with the Republican Party—around two-thirds hold a somewhat or very unfavorable view of the GOP, compared to only about one-quarter having a favorable view—their trust in Democrats on specific issues has surged. A March 2025 poll showed AAPI adults evenly split on which party would better handle the economy and immigration. Now, Democrats hold an approximate 20-percentage-point lead on both issues. However, despite this increased trust on specific policies, views of the Democratic Party as a whole remain split, with 48% having a somewhat or very unfavorable impression and 44% a favorable one.
Individual perspectives highlight these complex views. Rebecca Larocco, a 45-year-old Korean American, voted for Trump in 2016 and leans Republican for the midterms, approving of his immigration policies. Yet, she expressed uncertainty regarding the economy, stating, "Where I’m at, it’s went up almost $1.50 (a gallon)." Len Takahashi, a 57-year-old Japanese American who describes himself as conservative, has voted for Democrats in the last three presidential elections and Republicans in midterm elections. For the upcoming midterms, he prioritizes candidates focused on economic stability, stating, "I would like policies that look in the best interest of the American public." James Finley, 74, of Japanese heritage, supports Trump but is critical of Republicans for not achieving more while holding a majority for a couple of years.
As the election draws nearer, many AAPI adults are also deeply concerned about issues impacting the integrity of the voting process. Approximately half view people who are eligible not being allowed to vote as a "major problem" in U.S. elections, and about two-thirds see foreign government attempts to influence results as a "major" problem. Furthermore, about half of AAPI adults are extremely or very concerned about fake or false information regarding candidates, and a similar proportion share concerns about legal challenges to election results. Finley, for instance, questioned the monitoring of the voting process, while Takahashi expressed worry that Trump might try to manipulate the election outcomes by amplifying claims of "fraud in the election system" if results do not favor him, using it as a tactic to distract the public.
The poll surveyed 1,023 U.S. adults identifying as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander, using a sample designed to be representative of this population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is ±4.7 percentage points.