In the heart of liberal San Francisco, a surprising shift is taking place.
Asian Americans, a historically significant ethnic community, are increasingly distancing themselves from the Democratic Party.
This trend is not limited to conservative supporters of former President Trump but also includes left-leaning organizers, according to a recent report by The San Francisco Standard.
The Standard's journalists, Han Li and Noah Baustin, shed light on this unexpected development in their piece. They recount an incident involving State Sen. Scott Wiener, who, during a Chinese New Year celebration, attempted to caution seniors about the potential dangers of Trump's return to the White House.
However, his warning was met with indifference. "The message fell on deaf ears for some in the audience," reported Li and Baustin. "Quite a few voted for Trump and are no fans of Democrats, who have long dominated San Francisco politics."
Lai Wah Hun, a local resident and Trump supporter, was quoted in the article, "Many of my neighbors support Trump," he said. "Democrats are too left. I dont like them." Although Hun holds more lenient views on immigration than Trump, he expressed concern about the direction the Democrats are taking the country, arguing, "Democrats are making America like a sinking ship."
According to The Standard, this sentiment is not an isolated one. The neighborhoods of Visitacion Valley and Portola, which have significant Asian populations, saw the most considerable shift towards Trump in the last election. "The seven neighborhoods that voted for Trump at the highest rates in 2024 have the citys largest Asian populations. Six of the 10 neighborhoods that saw the largest increase in Trump voting between 2020 and 2024 were close to or majority Asian," the reporters noted. "Underlying this turn to the right among Asian voters is a mounting distrust of the Democratic Party."
Rex Tabora, the executive director of the Asian Pacific American Community Center in Visitacion Valley, pointed out that high-profile crimes against Asian victims have led to growing skepticism towards local officials. "When it comes to public safety, Asians are law-and-order kind of folks," he said.
Ellen Lee Zhou, a staunch Trump supporter and multiple-time mayoral candidate, is believed to have influenced this shift towards Trump. Zhou regularly appears on a Chinese-language radio show, "Companion on the Road," where she discusses politics and criticizes Democratic leadership. "I want to educate law-abiding citizens to support Trump, and illegal immigrants are exploiting our welfare system," Zhou told The Standard, estimating her audience to be between 30,000 and 50,000 listeners.
However, this shift away from the Democratic Party is not going unnoticed. Nancy Tung, chair of San Franciscos Democratic Party, acknowledged the growing frustration among voters, particularly within the Chinese community. "Im committed to making sure we engage the Chinese community and other immigrant communities to hear their concerns and win them back in the next and future elections," she said.
The Democratic Party's declining popularity among Asian Americans is further evidenced by the Rose Pak Democratic Club's decision to remove "Democratic" from its name. "Club leaders said they wanted the move to serve as a wake-up call to the party about the increasing detachment in the Asian community," The Standard reported.
Club president Jeremy Lee noted that the Democrats are struggling particularly with Chinese-speaking immigrants. He shared that some seniors have expressed their liking for him but not for the Democratic Party. Concepts like "defund the police" do not resonate with the Chinese American community, he added.
In contrast, the Chinese American Democratic Club (CADC), a moderate group, has found success by positioning itself against progressivism. CADC President Josephine Zhao proudly stated, "We are proud to help our community in voicing their centrist views." This shift in political allegiance among Asian Americans in San Francisco underscores the growing disillusionment with the Democratic Party's far-left policies and the increasing appeal of conservative values.
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