by Joseph Lai, Real Clear Politics, October 18, 2022
As we count down the days to the U.S. midterm elections, races to determine control of Congress are tightening across the country. That’s certainly the case in Nevada, where Republican Adam Laxalt is locked in a close race with incumbent Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto.
Nevada’s Senate race is worth watching not only because it’s competitive, but also because it’s a testing ground for the power of Asian American voters. While the Silver State’s large and growing Asian American community has trended Democratic in recent elections, Laxalt is making a strong play for the community’s support, based on concern over critical quality-of-life issues like inflation, gas prices, and rising crime. And that approach may be getting results – recent polls show Laxalt with a slim lead, though within the margin of error, over his Democratic opponent.
The Asian American population has doubled over the last two decades, making it the fastest growing minority demographic group in the United States. About 24 million Americans identify as Asian American. Nevada is one of the states where the Asian American population is growing the fastest, thanks in part to strong demand for labor in the hospitality and health care sectors in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. That also means the Asian American community is emerging as a significant political force – about 10% of the state’s voters.
In recent election cycles, Nevada Democrats held a decisive advantage with this coveted demographic. One 2016 survey found 41% of Nevada’s Asian American voters aligned with the Democratic Party, compared to 26% that leaned GOP. But note that those numbers show almost a third of Nevada Asian American voters on the fence and open to persuasion.
As we count down the days to the U.S. midterm elections, races to determine control of Congress are tightening across the country. That’s certainly the case in Nevada, where Republican Adam Laxalt is locked in a close race with incumbent Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto.
Nevada’s Senate race is worth watching not only because it’s competitive, but also because it’s a testing ground for the power of Asian American voters. While the Silver State’s large and growing Asian American community has trended Democratic in recent elections, Laxalt is making a strong play for the community’s support, based on concern over critical quality-of-life issues like inflation, gas prices, and rising crime. And that approach may be getting results – recent polls show Laxalt with a slim lead, though within the margin of error, over his Democratic opponent.
The Asian American population has doubled over the last two decades, making it the fastest growing minority demographic group in the United States. About 24 million Americans identify as Asian American. Nevada is one of the states where the Asian American population is growing the fastest, thanks in part to strong demand for labor in the hospitality and health care sectors in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. That also means the Asian American community is emerging as a significant political force – about 10% of the state’s voters.
In recent election cycles, Nevada Democrats held a decisive advantage with this coveted demographic. One 2016 survey found 41% of Nevada’s Asian American voters aligned with the Democratic Party, compared to 26% that leaned GOP. But note that those numbers show almost a third of Nevada Asian American voters on the fence and open to persuasion.
So pay attention to the numbers on the Nevada race. Should Laxalt emerge victorious next month, other Republican candidates will want to take a close look at Nevada for lessons in how to reach and persuade Asian American voters.
Joseph Lai served as White House special assistant for legislative affairs from 2017 to 2019 and is now a principal at BGR Group.