Press Release

New York City… The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) today released preliminary results of its nonpartisan exit poll of more than 500 Asian American voters in the Nov. 5, 2019 elections in Virginia, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Asian Americans strongly favored Democratic candidates in close races in Virginia and supported stricter gun control laws in all three states. AALDEF will also conduct an exit poll for the Louisiana gubernatorial election on Saturday, November 16, 2019.

AALDEF executive director Margaret Fung said: “The Asian American Exit Poll provides an important snapshot of the growing Asian American electorate, including their party affiliations and issues influencing their votes in key races. In 2019, Asian American voters were part of the unusually high turnout in Virginia that consolidated Democratic control of the state legislature."

In the Nov. 5 elections, Democrats picked up two seats in the Virginia State Senate and six seats in the House of Delegates, winning majority control of both houses of the Virginia General Assembly– the first time since 1994.

When asked how they would vote if the presidential election were held on Tuesday, Asian American voters polled favored Joe Biden, followed by Elizabeth Warren, as their top two Democratic choices for president.

AALDEF dispatched attorneys, law students, and community volunteers to seven cities in five states to monitor voter problems on Election Day and to conduct a nonpartisan Asian American exit poll in English and three Asian languages. Asian Americans were polled in Fairfax County and Arlington County in Virginia; Houston, Texas; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

AALDEF also sent observers to check on voter problems and the availability of language assistance at poll sites during the early voting period in New York City, Boston, and Malden, Massachusetts. The 2019 elections marked the first time in state history that New Yorkers had the option to vote early.

AALDEF Democracy Program Director Jerry Vattamala said: “In all three states, a large percentage of the Asian American voters polled were not enrolled in a political party. Asian Americans, now the nation’s fastest growing racial minority group, are registering to vote in larger numbers and could play a critical role in determining electoral outcomes in 2020."

The following is a preliminary breakdown of AALDEF exit poll results by state:

Virginia:
Party Affiliation
Democrat: 51%, Republican: 10%, Not Enrolled: 38%, Other Party: 2%

Vote for House of Delegates:
Democratic Candidate: 80%, Republican Candidate: 16%, Other: 1%, Did Not Vote: 3%

Vote for State Senate:
Democratic Candidate: 81%, Republican Candidate: 15%, Did Not Vote: 4%

Vote for President if Election Were Today:
Joe Biden: 26%, Elizabeth Warren: 20%, Bernie Sanders: 15%, Donald Trump: 13%, Andrew Yang: 8%, Other Democrat: 7%, Other Party/Independent: 6%, Pete Buttigieg: 4%, Other Republican: 3%, Kamala Harris: 3%, Cory Booker: 0.4%, Beto O’Rourke: 0.4%

In general, do you support stricter gun control laws?
Strongly Support: 71%, Support: 20%, Don’t Know: 3%, Oppose: 3%, Strongly Oppose: 3%

Do you believe the U.S. House of Representatives should proceed with an impeachment inquiry of President Trump?
Yes: 64%, No: 17%, Don’t Know: 19%

Do you support legislation that would get Virginia to 100% renewable energy by 2050?
Yes: 82%, No: 4%, Don’t Know: 13%

Houston, Texas:
Party Affiliation
Democrat: 33%, Republican: 30%, Not Enrolled: 36%, Other Party: 2%

Vote for Mayor:
Sylvester Turner: 36%, Tony Buzbee: 35%, Bill King: 15%, Other Candidate: 10%, Sue Lovell: 2%, Dwight Boykins: 1%

Vote for President if Election Were Today:
Donald Trump: 38%, Joe Biden: 15%, Elizabeth Warren: 12%, Andrew Yang: 9%, Other Republican: 6%, Bernie Sanders: 4%, Pete Buttigieg: 4%, Beto O’Rourke: 4%, Kamala Harris: 2%, Other Democrat: 2%, Other Party/Independent: 2%, Cory Booker: 1%,

In general, do you support stricter gun control laws?
Strongly Support: 58%, Support: 24%, Don’t Know: 7%, Oppose: 5%, Strongly Oppose: 6%

Do you believe the U.S. House of Representatives should proceed with an impeachment inquiry of President Trump?
Yes: 41%, No: 41%, Don’t Know: 18%

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
Party Affiliation
Democrat: 65%, Republican: 6%, Not Enrolled: 27%, Other Party: 2%

Vote for Mayor:
James Kenney: 74%, Billy Ciancaglini: 3%, Other Candidate: 11%, Did Not Vote: 11%

Vote for City Council at-large:
David Oh: 22%, Helen Gym: 18%, Allan Domb: 16%, Isaiah Thomas: 12%, Derek Green: 11%, Katherine Richardson: 10%, Other Candidate: 4%, Al Taubenberger: 2%, Daniel Tinney: 2%, Bill Heeney: 1%, Matt Wolfe: 1%

Vote for President if Election Were Today:
Joe Biden: 24%, Elizabeth Warren: 19%, Andrew Yang: 14%, Bernie Sanders: 12%, Pete Buttigieg: 10%, Donald Trump: 10%, Other Republican: 5%, Kamala Harris: 3%, Other Democrat: 2%, Other Party/Independent: 2%, Cory Booker: 0%, Beto O’Rourke: 0%

In general, do you support stricter gun control laws?
Strongly Support: 80%, Support: 13%, Don’t Know: 4%, Oppose: 1%, Strongly Oppose: 1%

Do you believe the U.S. House of Representatives should proceed with an impeachment inquiry of President Trump?
Yes: 68%, No: 7%, Don’t Know: 25%

Asian American voters also faced barriers on Election Day, including denial of provisional ballots and access to language assistance, machine breakdowns, being directed to incorrect poll sites, and improper demands for proof of identification and citizenship when it was not required.

Poll sites in AALDEF’s exit poll were selected based on voter registration files, census data, interviews with local election officials and community leaders, and a history of voting problems. Attorneys, law students, and community volunteers were stationed at poll sites throughout the day, generally between 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. Surveys were written in English and three Asian languages, and volunteers were conversant in Asian languages and dialects. Additional exit poll results regarding Asian ethnic groups, most important issues influencing their votes, and opinions on comprehensive immigration reform and climate change will be released soon.

Special thanks to the Asian American Exit Poll co-sponsors:
Chinese Progressive Association - Boston
Greater Boston Legal Services - Asian Outreach Unit
OCA - Greater Houston
National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA)
National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC)
SEAMAAC - Philadelphia

* * *
For more information, contact:
Jerry Vattamala
Democracy Program Director
jvattamala@aaldef.org
212.966.5932 x209

Margaret Fung
Executive Director
mfung@aaldef.org
212.966.5932 X201