How Asian Americans could help determine today's NY Special Election to replace George Santos
Asian American voters in New York's 3rd Congressional District could help determine the outcome of the special election to fill George Santos' vacant House seat.
For decades, political campaigns paid scant attention to Asian American voters: The population was low. The Election Day turnout wasn’t there. Some had language barriers.
But in the fast-approaching special election to replace scandal-tanked Republican George Santos in New York’s 3rd Congressional District, voters from the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities could help determine the outcome.
About 18% of the district’s electorate is Asian American, according to the nonpartisan engagement group APIAVote.
And from downing shrimp dumplings to taping Lunar New Year greetings in Chinese, the candidates — former Rep. Tom Suozzi and Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip — are openly chasing their support in a district that covers parts of Queens and New York City’s Long Island suburbs.
An Emerson College Polling/PIX11 survey of district voters released Jan. 18 showed a tight race, with about 45% of voters behind Democrat Suozzi, 42% backing Republican Pilip, 5% supporting someone else and 9% undecided.
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