New film spotlights shifting politics of Asian American voters, the fastest growing voter bloc

But the level of support fluctuates by ethnicity, generation and region, and available data doesn’t show how AAPI voters in the South and Midwest might diverge from those in deep-blue California.

A former member of Chinese Americans for Trump, the group formed by mostly naturalized citizens from mainland China, Chen ran a political podcast to educate Mandarin-speaking voters about current affairs and “balance the lies of the mainstream media.”.

Since 2016, Chen said his support for Trump has only strengthened.

For first-generation AAPI voters, foreign affairs and the system of governance in their home countries often shape their political allegiances in America, said Chen, the director.

Chen said she was surprised to find that the film resonated with viewers from other racial groups, especially Cubans whose lived experiences under Fidel Castro inform who they support in the U.S.

“Watching the film now and looking at what’s going on today, I think it’s more relevant in terms of U.S.-China relations, Covid-19 and anti-Asian racism,” Chen said.

Rather than as “people of color,” she said in the film, Asian Americans are often seen as “honorary white people.” Examining racial tensions in this country can help young Asian Americans develop their political voice, she added

Despite their ideological differences, Ho said, the film’s four subjects, like Asian Americans in general, share a sense of confusion about their place in this country