Asian American Representation in State Legislatures

• In Event: Asian American Politics

Abstract

Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial group in the U.S. electorate, yet they are under-represented in political office. What drives Asian American representation? This study focuses on state legislatures, where Asian American representation has rapidly expanded in recent years, particularly in liberal and metropolitan areas. We take advantage of new data on state legislator race and district characteristics to offer a descriptive portrait and consider a range of explanations for increasing political representation. The paper evaluates theories of co-ethnic representation, immigrant incorporation, social capital, and elite mobilization, considering the evidence for each. We find strong evidence of co-ethnic representation. Asian American state legislators are more likely to be elected as the percentage of co-ethnic residents in their district increases. In line with theories of immigrant incorporation, representation also increases with the percentage of Asian Americans who are citizens and naturalized residents who immigrated prior to 1990. Unexpectedly, the likelihood of electing Asian American representatives decreases with the percentage of college-educated Asian American residents and Asian American median income. These results suggest that opportunities for Asian American legislative representation are highest in middle-class communities with sizable co-ethnic populations, rather than non-citizen ethnic enclaves or wealthy areas where a few high-status group members settle.

Authors

• Tanika Raychaudhuri, Rice University

• Michael Kistner, University of Houston