The Empowerment Thesis Revisited: Who Turns Out for Asian American Candidates?

• In Event: Divergent Aspects of Asian American Politics

Abstract

Scholars have debated the extent to which an ethnic candidate on the ballot stimulates increased turnout of co-ethnic voters. While significant attention has been given to African American and Latino candidates and voters, within the diverse and heterogeneous Asian American community, the relationship between candidates and voters is relatively less developed. Since 2009, several Asian Americans and Latinos have been elected to Congress. This paper examines precinct-level data and levels of racially polarized voting and turnout to determine whether Asian-American voters, as well as Latino and white voters are more likely to vote for and support Asian-American candidates.

Author

• Sara Sadhwani, University of Southern California