The Republican Party in New York City is seeing a surge in Asian-American candidates for the 2024 elections. There are 10 Republican candidates of East Asian descent running in Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. This increase in Asian-American candidates aligns with a trend of Asian-American voters leaning more towards the Republican party in recent years. The local GOP is hoping that this influx of candidates will translate to increased power at the polls, especially as the Asian community becomes more aware of the alignment of conservative values on public safety and education with the Republican Party.
One prominent candidate is Yiatin Chu, founder of The Asian Wave Alliance and a Senate candidate in northeast Queens. Chu, who immigrated from Taiwan at a young age, is running against long-time Democratic incumbent Sen. Toby Stavisky in a district where nearly 40% of residents are of Asian descent. Chu and other Asian GOP candidates have cited policies approved by elected Democrats, such as the cashless bail law and raising the age for criminal responsibility, as factors contributing to spikes in crime and a decline in quality of life. They believe that Democrats prioritize the interests of lawbreakers over average citizens.
The surge of Asian-American candidates in the Republican Party is seen as a positive development by Queens GOP Chairman Anthony Nunziato, who described the recent enthusiasm from the Asian-American community as “tremendous.” Asian Republican candidates have expressed concerns about issues such as unacceptable crime rates, declining quality of life, an uncontrolled migrant crisis, and a progressive movement seeking to dismantle merit-based education systems valued by their communities. This has motivated individuals like Steven Chan, a retired NYPD sergeant and US marine from Hong Kong, to run for office to address these issues and protect their communities.
Chan, who is running in Brooklyn’s 17th Senate district, advocates for legal immigration with an orderly and fair process. He opposes an open border policy and believes in the importance of closing the borders to maintain national sovereignty. Chan plans to introduce laws that support law enforcement and prosecutors in curbing crime, rather than aiding criminals. He also supports the continuation and expansion of specialized high schools, gifted and talented programs, and charter schools as options for students. Chan’s decision to run for office was triggered by the utilization of a high school gym as a shelter for migrants during a storm, reflecting his commitment to community protection.
Despite the presence of Asian-American Democratic office holders in New York City, such as Queens Rep. Grace Meng, state Sen. John Liu, Assemblywoman Grace Lee, and Assemblyman Ron Kim, there is growing frustration among Asian constituents with the Democratic Party. Republican candidates like Phil Wang are challenging Democratic incumbents and emphasizing the need for policies that address crime and safety concerns in Asian-American communities. The upcoming elections in 2024 will feature several other GOP candidates, including those challenging Democratic incumbents at various levels of government. The increase in Asian-American Republican candidates reflects a broader shift in voter demographics and the engagement of Asian-Americans in the political process.
