Korean American Voters Gain Importance in U.S. Swing States

The number of Korean American voters in critical swing states is growing in importance in presidential elections in the United States.

According to Korea Times, political experts have recently highlighted how this demographic could tip the balance in closely contested races. Only 6% of eligible voters are Asian Americans, but they are growing in battleground states like Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Nevada.

There are around 15 million Asian Americans eligible to vote and over 1.9 million Korean voters. According to the article, about 60,000 out of 100,000 Korean American residents in Georgia are registered voters, which demonstrates the impact of Korean American voters. The number of Korean American voters in Pennsylvania is roughly 30,000 out of 50,000.

According to a Pew Research Study, English-speaking Asian voters lean Democratic, with 72% voting for President Joe Biden versus 28% for Donald Trump. Political analysts predict Korean American voters will play an even more critical role in future elections as their influence grows in swing states. As the fastest-growing bloc of eligible voters, Asian Americans could swing this year’s presidential race between Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump.

In an interview with the New York Times, Karthick Ramakrishnan, the founder and executive director of AAPI Data, a research organization focusing on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, said Asian Americans could emerge as a target for both parties.

“Asian Americans are the quintessential swing voter group,” said Ramakrishnan. “Mostly, higher Asian American turnout will be a net advantage to the Democratic Party.”