Purple Georgia
We know Asian American communities are a pivotal part of the nation’s electorate. So how did they influence key races in Georgia?
Issue #9
Hi all,
Today’s violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington was a shameful moment in American history.
Elsewhere this week, instead of disrespecting our nation’s institutions and endangering lives, Americans of all political beliefs in Georgia exercised American democracy with a more powerful mechanism: voting.
In theory, some say having a “divided government” — both major political parties in power — can keep things in check (experts have mixed views on whether it’s good for the economy). But consider that some of the major legislation in the last decade was achieved when there wasn’t a divided government.
President Donald Trump was able to push forward his party’s push for tax cuts, with Republicans in control of the White House, Senate and House in 2017.
Former President Barack Obama was able to pass his party’s push for health care reform through the Affordable Care Act, with Democrats in control of the White House, Senate and House in 2010.
That’s why this week’s Georgia special election — in which three million people, or about 40% of Georgia’s registered voters, voted early — was a huge deal for President-elect Joe Biden.
Democrat challenger Jon Ossoff narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Sen. David Perdue, and incumbent Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler was unseated by Democrat challenger Raphael Warnock, who will be Georgia’s first Black senator. Biden will enter office later this month controlling the White House and will have a Democratic majority in the House, as well as a 50/50 party split in the Senate — in which Vice President-elect Kamala Harris can break any ties.
You might have heard Trump tried to pressure Georgia’s secretary of state to change votes in the state, which went for Biden. Georgia has not gone blue in a presidential election since 1992 when Bill Clinton won. So it’s a fascinating state to dive deep into demographic changes and political momentum among various communities — including Asian American groups (i.e. They See Blue in Georgia, the Indian American Impact Fund - IMPACT).
While a majority of Asian Americans reportedly voted for Biden over Trump (2 to 1 margin), Asian American communities are very diverse and vote on both sides of the spectrum. Below are some links to interesting stories that show how Asian American communities in Georgia — the fastest-growing demographic in the state — have gotten politically involved in ways both old and new.
Also, do you live in Georgia? Would love to hear about the types of political outreach you’ve encountered from campaigns in the last year. WhatsApp message us (646–481–3221) or reply to this email.
Sending you all healthy wishes for the new year.
Thanks for joining the conversation,
Vignesh Ramachandran (@VigneshR)
Co-founder of Red, White and Brown Media
The purpling of Georgia — and how Asian American communities are part of that change:
Could Asian Americans be crucial to swinging Georgia's Senate races? (The Guardian)
Record Asian American turnout helped Biden win Georgia. Can it help flip the Senate? (The Washington Post)
Asian-American Voters Can Help Decide Elections. But for Which Party? (The New York Times)
A New Political Force Emerges in Georgia: Asian-American Voters (The New York Times)
Democratic organizers set their sights on Asian American voters to win control of the Senate (POLITICO)
Georgia Is Getting More Blue. The Senate Races Will Tell How Much. (The New York Times)
Georgia’s Asian American Voters Are Among Record Demographic Turnout (NPR)
The numbers:
Pew Research Center data shows how Asian American voters have grown in recent years in Georgia.
Your Thoughts
Please send a WhatsApp message to 646–481–3221 or email us to share your feedback:
Red, White and Brown first launched on Medium back in 2016 and was re-focused in 2018 with renewed vigor to spark conversations about culture and politics in the United States through the lens of South Asian American race and identity. Please tell your friends and family to subscribe to this newsletter and follow the latest posts on Medium.