AA+PIs respond to election: Safety, justice, and representation in limbo

With election results showing Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, many AA+PI voters have been left with renewed concerns over safety and representation in an increasingly polarized United States.

This election saw record turnout among Asian American voters, now the fastest-growing group of eligible voters in the country, with a 15 percent increase—or roughly two million new eligible voters—since 2020, according to Pew Research’s survey on Asian American eligible voters in 2024.

Community leaders have expressed concerns over Trump’s presidency. "As an organization dedicated to ending hate against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, we at Stop AAPI Hate are incredibly alarmed that Trump will use the highest office in the land to build on his legacy of racism and bigotry,” says Cynthia Choi, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, a coalition that was formed during the COVID-19 pandemic to track anti-AA+PI racism and hate crimes, in a press release. “Stop AAPI Hate was founded in response to the wave of anti-Asian hate Trump stoked by unfairly blaming Asian people for the COVID-19 pandemic with outrageously racist rhetoric. Since his first presidency, he has only continued to exploit his political power to fuel more hate, manufacture fear, spew disinformation, divide Americans, and erode our democracy.”

For many, the persistence of anti-Asian racism—heightened by the pandemic and recent political scapegoating—has fueled civic engagement. In 2023, nearly half of all AA+PI adults—49 percent—reported experiencing an act of racism or discrimination, according to a September report by Stop AAPI Hate. In addition, 85 percent of AA+PI adults expressed concern about the nation’s racial climate, and 70 percent indicated they are motivated to advance justice and equity for our communities. 

“Anti-AA+PI incidents reinvigorated during the COVID-19 pandemic have certainly affected my own sense of comfort and safety, especially as an Asian woman,” says Yung-Yi Diana Pan, director of the American studies program at Brooklyn College. “But these incidents are part of a long history of scapegoating immigrants. My role as a voter—and as an American—is to advocate for the rights of all, not just my own.” 

Economist and award-winning author Syl Tang shares her concern. “This election represents a choice between unity and division,” she says. “With ‘Project 2025’—a conservative policy agenda by The Heritage Foundation that mentions China 483 times—it’s clear that many Asian Americans are still not viewed as legitimate Americans by certain conservative factions. The outcome of this election may leave many Asians with serious concerns about their place and safety in the country.”

The results remind us that we need to continue fighting for a future that values all people. Tang, a futurist, also notes that while the current political and economic climates are cyclical, preserving democracy is a long-term commitment.

Despite the election outcome, AA+PI voters have underscored their importance in society. Pan says, “We have a lot of work ahead—not only to bring visibility to the issues affecting AA+PI communities, but also to reimagine an American identity that is empathetic, kind, and compassionate. This expectation hangs on a thread of hope, but I believe we can get there.”

For many, the fight for visibility and justice has only just begun. This election may not have brought the change the community wanted, but our influence is only beginning to be felt.

“As our political power grows, Stop AAPI Hate will help lead the way for our communities towards a brighter future in which everyone in America can prosper,” Choi continues in the release. “We will document anti-AA+PI hate through our reporting center, amp up our work to strengthen and protect civil rights, hold leaders accountable for bigoted rhetoric and policies, track far-right extremism impacting AA+PIs, and advocate for affirmative policies that give AA+PIs and people of color equal opportunity to thrive.”