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The New Face of the Grand Old Party
The Republican Party of Orange County regularly solicits the views and news of the state and federal delegation. Please read this week's Op-Ed by California BOE Member Michelle Park Steel
Although Ronald Reagan could not have succeeded without Nancy Reagan’s love and support, historians generally agree that only one marriage propelled Reagan into the White House: the merger of social and fiscal conservatives into the Republican Party. This logical unification of conservatives behind one party and one candidate produced the mutually beneficial relationship that continues today.
In California , a similar marriage is emerging between Asian American voters and the California Republican Party. From Orange County to San Jose , Asian American candidates are registering voters, raising money for voter education, and winning state and local elections — as Republicans.
It is an exciting time for Asian American political representation in California . This past month, AsianWeek profiled the new look of the California State Board of Equalization, the country’s only elected tax appeals board.
For the first time in California history, Asian Americans hold four out of the five seats on the board, with three of the five members Asian American women.
Some may argue that any increase in Asian American Republican representation is merely the reflection of Asian Americans’ larger electoral success demonstrated by the Board of Equalization.
However, when you analyze the voting trends of the last statewide election, the evidence indicates a larger demographic shift in Asian American political identification.
According to the November 2006 Los Angeles Times exit poll, 62 percent of Asian American voters sided with Governor Schwarzenegger, whose victory depended in large part on his successful outreach to Asian voters. exit poll, 62 percent of Asian American voters sided with Governor Schwarzenegger, whose victory depended in large part on his successful outreach to Asian voters.
Governor Schwarzenegger’s campaign spent time, energy and resources adding Asian American voters to his coalition for victory. His team of political advisors understood that his campaign could not succeed without Asian American support. Additionally, it would be natural to sell a hard working immigrant who supported free market principles to Asian American voters.
Yet, Arnold Schwarzenegger was not the only immigrant to take his Republican message to Asian Americans. Three years ago, Assemblyman Van Tran invested time, energy and resources registering and mobilizing Vietnamese American voters.
Some political skeptics doubted the investment in the Vietnamese community because there had never been a successful and lasting Republican Asian American outreach campaign.
Of course, the skeptics continued to doubt the outreach plan even after Van Tran added the title of “Assemblyman” to his name. They erroneously claimed that the success of one prominent figure in the community did not translate into the success of other candidates.
Yet, this past month, Tran’s strategy of registering Asian Americans as Republicans was proven to be a lasting winning strategy for the Republican Party. The top two vote-getters in the Orange County Supervisor’s election did not just share the same ethnicity or last name; they shared the same party.
Even more astounding, both of these candidates outperformed a longtime Orange County Democratic State Assemblyman.
The Orange County First District Supervisorial election was historic for two reasons. First, the election was decided by three votes, one of the smallest margins in Orange County history. Second, the Republican Party won in Democratic territory by reaching out to Asian American voters. It was not an isolated incident but the culmination of years of voter registration, education and candidate development.
Across California , Republican leaders are learning from this Asian American victory. Party Chairmen like Santa Clara County Chairman Keen Butcher are investing in local Asian American Republican candidates and voter outreach.
In San Jose , Hon Lien is now headed to a city council run-off thanks to Chairman Butcher’s support. This Asian American outreach is the Republican Party’s long-term strategy for victory in California .
Ronald Reagan’s fusion of social and fiscal conservatives revolutionized Republican politics. Similarly, Asian American Republicans are changing the face, foundation and future of that same party.
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