Asian American adults now trust Democrats more on the economy as GOP support fades, poll finds

Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults have grown more frustrated with the Republican Party and with President Donald Trump as the Nov. 3 midterms draw near, a new survey shows. Democrats now hold a wide lead on the issues this group cares about most, even though many still feel lukewarm about the party itself.

The poll of 1,023 adults was taken Sept. 8 to 15 by AAPI Data and the NORC research center at the University of Chicago. Its margin of error is plus or minus 4.7 percentage points.

The economy comes first

About nine in 10 said the economy ranks among the most important issues in this election. About eight in 10 said the same of the cost of living and about seven in 10 named health care. Only about half put foreign policy, crime, immigration, election fairness or climate change in that top tier.

Approval of Trump's handling of the economy has slid about 10 points this year to roughly two in 10. About a quarter approve of his job performance overall. Soon after the 2024 election around four in 10 viewed him favorably. That share is now closer to three in 10.

Karthick Ramakrishnan, who founded AAPI Data and runs it, said whatever ground Trump gained in 2024 and in the brief honeymoon before his inauguration has now mostly disappeared.

A shift in trust

In March 2025 this group was evenly split over which party would better handle the economy and immigration. Democrats now lead by about 20 points on both. On health care 52% picked Democrats and 11% picked Republicans.

Roughly two in three now hold an unfavorable view of the GOP while only about one in four see it favorably. Democrats do not get a clean bill either. Forty-eight percent view the party unfavorably and 44% favorably.

A Japanese American conservative in Texas who has backed Democrats for president and Republicans in midterms said he simply wants candidates who focus on the economy, lower spending and less fighting between the far left and the far right. A Democrat in Chicago said she thinks her own party needs major change.

Worries about the vote

About two-thirds called foreign efforts to sway U.S. elections a major problem. About half said the same about eligible people being kept from voting. About half also said they were extremely or very worried about false information on candidates, with a similar share worried about legal fights over the results.