Trump suffers fresh midterm blow as support among Asian Americans plunges in damning new poll

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults are expressing growing dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump and the Republican Party as the Nov. 3 midterm elections draw near, according to a poll from AP-NORC and AAPI Data, giving Democrats a notable advantage on key issues such as healthcare and the economy.The survey, conducted between Sept. 8 and Sept. 15 by AAPI Data and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, indicates that support for Trump's economic policies among AAPI adults has declined over his second term.Approximately a quarter of AAPI adults approve of Trump's overall job performance as president. Only about two in 10 approve of his economic management, which the vast majority of AAPI adults consider one of the most critical issues in the upcoming election.Democrat US Senate candidate for Michigan Abdul El-Sayed speaks on stage with US Representative Ayanna Pressley (L), Democrat of Massachusetts during a midterm campaign rally in Flint (AFP/Getty)While AAPI adults demonstrate greater trust in Democrats over Republicans across a range of policy topics, public opinion regarding the Democratic Party as a whole remains divided.Rebecca Larocco, a 45-year-old Korean American voter in Corning, Iowa, backed Trump in 2016 and is leaning toward Republicans for the midterms. Although she approves of his border policies, she expresses uncertainty about Trump’s economic handling as ongoing military conflict in Iran drives up fuel costs."Where I’m at, it’s went up almost $1.50 (a gallon)," she said. "I didn’t expect to go into war at all, that has been definitely unexpected and I’m not sure... I’m just hoping they’ll do what they’re saying and get our economy back on track, get immigration and crime lowered."The economy remains the primary consideration for an overwhelming majority of AAPI adults evaluating the midterm contests. With the conflict in Iran affecting gas prices and broader living expenses remaining high, Americans generally view the economy pessimistically and as a top priority. Trump speaks during a campaign rally to support Republican House of Representatives candidate Ed Gallrein and Senate candidate Andy Barr, at Truist Arena in Highland Heights, Kentucky (Reuters)About nine in 10 AAPI adults identify the economy as a major election issue, while roughly eight in 10 say the same about the cost of living.Economic concerns, the cost of living, and healthcare significantly outweigh other issues for AAPI adults. About seven in 10 consider healthcare a top election priority, while roughly half say the same about foreign policy, crime, immigration, voting integrity, or climate change.Meanwhile, Trump's approval among AAPI adults has fallen by about 10 percentage points since the start of the year, along with other indicators of declining favorability. Following the election in late 2024, nearly four in 10 AAPI adults viewed Trump favorably, a figure that has dropped to roughly three in 10."What the data show is that any gains that he made not only during the 2024 election — there was a bit of a honeymoon period that Trump enjoyed after the election before Inauguration Day — that has now largely disappeared," said Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder and executive director of AAPI Data.Len Takahashi, 57, of Universal City, Texas, identifies as conservative but voted for Democratic candidates in the past three presidential contests while choosing Republicans in midterms. For the upcoming midterms, he is focused on candidates who prioritize financial stability.Voters leave Desert Breeze Community Center during early voting in the US midterm elections on October 17, 2026 in Las Vegas (AFP/Getty)"I would like policies that look in the best interest of the American public," said Takahashi, who is Japanese American. "That could be bringing down spending, a balanced budget of U.S. spending, bringing down inflation, working towards a more stable economy and, lastly, just a better atmosphere between the far left and far right."Since Trump returned to the White House, Democrats have gained ground over Republicans in terms of voter trust among AAPI adults on key topics.In a March 2025 poll, AAPI adults were divided evenly over which party would better manage the economy and immigration. Currently, Democrats hold roughly a 20-percentage-point lead on both matters.Furthermore, about two-thirds of AAPI adults hold an unfavorable view of the GOP, compared to only about a quarter who view the party favorably.However, despite higher trust on specific policy issues, AAPI adults remain ambivalent about the Democratic Party itself. Approximately 48 percent hold an unfavorable view of the Democratic Party, while 44 percent view it favorably.A separate AP-NORC survey of registered voters in September similarly found that while voters broadly disapprove of Trump and the Republican Party, few express confidence in either political party's ability to address major issues.Louise Rider, a 40-year-old Democrat living in Chicago, believes Democrats handle issues better than Republicans but remains dissatisfied with the party's leadership (Getty Images)Louise Rider, a 40-year-old Democrat living in Chicago, believes Democrats handle issues better than Republicans but remains dissatisfied with the party's leadership."I don’t think the Democrats are doing great, I think they need a lot of change as a party," she said. "It’s kind of a helpless feeling, that nothing will get done with both parties unless there’s major changes."Some Republicans continue to back Trump. James Finley, 74, of Lenox, Massachusetts, said Trump should be given time because lowering prices quickly is difficult. Regarding Republicans in Congress, Finley offered more critical feedback."They've had the majority for a couple of years," said Finley, who has Japanese ancestry. "I think they could have done a little bit more or maybe a lot more in terms of passing certain things that I wanted to pass."Nevertheless, he remains loyal to the party, adding that "all I ever hear from Democrats is to get Trump," Finley said.As the midterms approach, concerns regarding election integrity, misinformation, and voter access are widespread among AAPI adults. Around half view eligible voters being turned away as a "major problem," while about two-thirds view foreign election interference as a "major" issue.Looking toward the vote in November, about half of AAPI adults are highly concerned about misleading or false candidate information, and a similar proportion worry about potential legal challenges to election outcomes.Finley remains uncertain whether voting procedures can be monitored sufficiently to stop unregistered individuals from attempting to vote.However, Takahashi, the Texas conservative, expressed concern that Trump could disrupt the post-election process.He voiced concern that Trump might push claims of "fraud in the election system" if the midterms produce unfavorable results. "(He’ll) make that a point to distract the American public," he said.