The Rising Political Engagement of Asian Americans in Georgia: A Case Study of Forsyth County
By Jeff Zeleny, CNN
Cumming, Georgia (CNN) — The moment Kannan Udayarajan decided to become politically active is seared into his memory. It was four years ago when Republican Sen. David Perdue struck a mocking tone at a Donald Trump rally as he repeatedly mispronounced Kamala Harris’ name. The Middle Georgia crowd laughed right along as he stretched out his words: “Ka-MAL-a or what, Kamala or Ka-MAL-a, Ka-MAL-a, -mala, -mala, I don’t know, whatever.”
This moment became a call to action for Udayarajan, 42, who now leads the Forsyth County Democratic Party and embodies the changing face of Georgia. “I saw some people rationalizing that mispronunciation, and I felt there was a need to stand up, to speak up, because we should not be normalizing this kind of behavior,” said Udayarajan, who moved to the US in 2007 after growing up in India. “That’s what initially triggered me to mobilize myself and my friends.”
Demographic Shifts in Forsyth County
Udayarajan’s mobilization is evident in Forsyth County, located about 30 miles northeast of Atlanta, where the Asian American population has more than doubled in the past two decades. This demographic shift is crucial as these voters are now a significant part of Harris’ strategy in her race against Trump. “In 2020, when Joe Biden won Georgia by 11,780 votes, Forsyth County delivered 16,000 brand new Democratic votes,” Udayarajan noted. With the changing demographics, the stakes are high for both parties as they prepare for the upcoming election.
As voter registration deadlines loom and early voting begins in several states, both the Trump and Harris campaigns are racing to maximize their outreach among various demographic groups. The Asian American electorate, in particular, is seen as a vital segment, given its rapid growth in battleground states like Georgia and North Carolina.
Asian American Voters: A Diverse and Growing Force
Asian American voters represent the fastest-growing segment of the eligible electorate among major racial and ethnic groups. This diverse group, hailing from over 20 national origins, is far from a monolith, with each community holding distinct political views. “Our numbers are still small, but we could be the deciding factor in terms of margin of victory,” said James Woo of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, a nonpartisan group in Atlanta. “We always mention that to our community members who see the difference every single vote can make.”
The razor-thin results of the last presidential election in Georgia—where Biden won by less than a quarter of a percentage point—underscore the importance of every vote. Woo observed that while many Asian Americans may not have strong party allegiance, their backgrounds often inform their political decisions. “The economy is a huge issue,” he explained, noting that many community members are small-business owners who feel the direct impact of economic policies.
The Changing Landscape of Political Engagement
The Atlanta suburbs have transformed dramatically over the past two decades, evolving from a single Asian supermarket to bustling shopping malls, bakeries, and restaurants. This diverse tapestry of backgrounds leads to varied political perspectives, with South Asians often holding different views than their Korean, Vietnamese, or Chinese counterparts.
In Forsyth County, a mix of opinions is evident. An elderly man walking to his car expressed his support for Trump, while a woman at a nearby coffee shop backed Harris. “It’s not absolutely like black and white, about how immigrants vote one way or another,” Woo said. “We also have to look into a lot of issues and specific areas they are concerned about.”
Recent polling data reveals that Asian American voters tend to lean Democratic. A survey from AAPI Data found that 66% of Asian American voters plan to support Harris, while 28% intend to back Trump. Additionally, 62% of Asian American voters hold a favorable opinion of Harris, compared to 35% who view her unfavorably. With approximately 15 million Asian Americans projected to be eligible to vote in 2024, this demographic is poised to play a significant role in the upcoming election.
The Political Landscape in Georgia
Georgia boasts about 328,000 Asian American and Pacific Islander eligible voters, a notable number given the expected tight margins of the presidential race. Woo has observed differing outreach efforts from the two major parties. “I definitely see the Democratic Party do AAPI specific outreach and events,” he said. “From the Trump campaign, I haven’t seen as much.”
The Republican Asian American community center that opened in 2021 has since closed, replaced by a novelty shop, highlighting the challenges the GOP faces in engaging this demographic. Republican officials have been reticent to elaborate on their strategies to win over Asian American voters. In contrast, the Harris campaign has dedicated staff to engage with this community, deploying resources to Georgia and other battleground states.
Harris, who would be the first Black and South Asian woman elected president, is also leveraging her Indian American roots through targeted advertising. Her latest campaign ad features images of her mother, whom Harris describes as “a brilliant, 5-foot tall, brown woman with an accent,” aiming to resonate with voters who share similar backgrounds.
Local Candidates and Grassroots Mobilization
In Forsyth County, traditionally a deep-red area, the political landscape is shifting. Trump carried the county in 2020 by more than 30 points, but that margin has decreased significantly from his nearly 50-point win in 2016. Democrats are now fielding candidates across the ballot, including Ashwin Ramaswami, who is challenging Republican state Sen. Shawn Still, indicted for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 election results.
Ramaswami believes that Harris’ presence at the top of the ticket will energize Asian American voters and beyond. “The suburbs and the exurbs of Georgia have been the traditional power base for Republicans for such a long time,” he said. “It’s not a question of if Georgia will become blue, it’s a question of when.”
Grassroots efforts are also gaining momentum, with groups like “South Asians for Harris” mobilizing to support the Democratic ticket. Sonjui Kumar, who leads this initiative, emphasizes the potential impact of Asian American voters, despite their relatively small population in the state. “Our community is not that big – it’s 4% of the state’s population,” she noted. “But in some counties, it’s 122,000, it’s 60,000. It’s enough to absolutely make a difference when you’re talking in those numbers.”
As the October 7 deadline for voter registration approaches and early voting begins, Udayarajan balances his time between his IT company and the Forsyth County Democratic headquarters, where organizers from the Harris campaign are actively working. “Forsyth County presents a huge opportunity for Democrats,” he stated. “It’s of strategic importance, just looking at the data.”
The mocking of Harris’ name that initially drew Udayarajan into politics has only intensified since she ascended to the top of the Democratic ticket. He sees it as a motivating force for him and many other Indian Americans. “A lot of people here, their aunts or their grandmothers or mothers might have that name,” he explained. “The mispronunciation of the name kind of triggered community involvement in the political process. More and more people just started showing up.”