Tracing the Rise of Asian American Conservatism

By: Alisha Hou

Photo by BBC / Getty Images

Asian Americans have long been generalized as a solidly Democratic bloc–a symbol of upward mobility and liberal progress. According to a 2023 Pew survey, about 62% of Asian American registered voters identify as Democratic-leaning, while 34% lean Republican. However, a closer examination of different Asian nationalities reveals more subtleties. 51% Vietnamese Americans lean Republican, the highest GOP alignment among the five largest Asian origin groups. In states like Texas and California, Vietnamese American precincts swung sharply right during the 2020 and 2024 elections, even as anti-Asian rhetoric intensified nationwide. Although Chinese Americans remain majority Democratic (56%), their margin is thinner relative to other groups. In San Francisco, for example, the number of Chinese-born Republicans has jumped 60% since the pandemic. 

The shift reflects an ongoing redefinition of political identity, shaped by how communities interpret their history and respond to the changing landscape of American politics. For many Vietnamese and Chinese Americans, the entry point into conservatism is not religious traditionalism or opposition to social change, pillars that often define white evangelical conservatism. Rather, recent developments have tapped into this long-rooted anti-communist ethos in new ways. As U.S.–China tensions have escalated, Republican messaging that frames Democrats as sympathetic to socialism has resonated strongly with older Vietnamese and Chinese immigrants. While this messaging may gain short-term traction through targeted outreach, political parties risk losing credibility if they ignore deeper structural issues such as immigration policy and racial discrimination.

For Vietnamese Americans, the roots run deep. Many early Vietnamese immigrants fled communist rule, planting a strong anti-communist ethos that persists today. Democratic support for social welfare and affirmative action is at times viewed through a lens of socialist overreach, and Republicans’ tough rhetoric toward China resonates as an ideological echo of Cold War struggles. Misinformation also plays a role. In Vietnamese-language social media, deliberate narratives framing Democratic figures as pro-communist have circulated for years by Conservative community members and influencers, intensifying generational divides in political identity. Younger Vietnamese Americans tend to lean toward the Democratic Party, while older immigrants tend to remain supporters of the GOP.

The shift of Chinese Americans to conservatism is equally complex. Some lean toward conservative economic messaging or favor tougher national security stances on China. For many immigrants from mainland China, Hong Kong, or Taiwan, this reflects skepticism toward the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rather than hostility toward Chinese identity, as many came to the U.S. specifically seeking political freedoms not available under CCP governance. Others engage with campaign outreach in Chinese-language media, especially as non-English sources remain a primary news source for many in the community.

Recent political research underscores this complexity. A Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences study on Asian American political fault lines shows that while many Asian subgroups converge on broad principles like education and opportunity, they diverge sharply on issues such as taxation, social welfare, and foreign policy—divisions rooted in distinct histories and class trajectories. An analysis of racial identity and party alignment, published in the American Political Science Review, further supports how voters navigate their racial and national identities can determine whether they identify more strongly with Democrats or Republicans.

As both parties compete for power, the real test will be whether they engage these communities beyond token outreach—whether they ask why Vietnamese Americans fear socialism, or which economic concerns shape Chinese American voting. Treating Asian American conservatives—or any group—as a monolith erases the histories and experiences that shape how communities think and vote. When an entire community is misunderstood or misrepresented, democracy itself becomes narrower and less responsive. In a changing America, that narrowing is a mistake the country cannot afford.

The views expressed in this publication are the authors' own and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Rice Journal of Public Policy, its staff, or its Editorial Board.

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