AN increase of pro- Trump Filipinos with only days left before the November 5th presidential elections.
As the rest of America hits the polling stations for the remainder of Election Day, Filipino-Americans, we asked some Filipinos who and why they will be voting in particular.
An AAPI Data voter survey in September revealed that 94 percent of Filipino-American voters are planning to vote this November.
45 percent of Filipino American these voters identify as Democrat, while the other 55 percent are Republican.
As a traditionally Democratic state, Illinois is home to a big Filipino population. This is the same picture with other notable Blue States: California and New York.
But this year, some Filipinos are leaning towards the Republican Party, like Lorna and Joseph — because of a change in preference of platforms.
“I came to U.S. po 1980, it’s an American Dream po. I just want to tell you, America is great and we can make it great again, di ba?”
“I vote for Trump because of the economy, because of the border, because of the high prices that we are experiencing now, and the safety. There’s so much crime here in Chicago…. I just wanna go all the way Trump, I hope he wins,” a Filipina said.
“Even kindergarteners can decide for themselves about their gender and even the young ones can decide to change in their sex or gender regardless of their parents’ decision,” Lorna, Chicago Resident said.
Also, he’s against war and he’s against global conflicts. The past 16 years, there was no war. 12 years of which the United States was under the Democrats, and there were wars all along.
With 19 electoral votes, Illinois is the largest electoral prize in the Midwest. Since 1992, Illinois has helped seat a Democratic President — notably Barack Obama, who grew up and began his political career in the Windy City.
But political analysts say individuals often have deeper personal connections to their political beliefs, identities, and communities, making them less likely to switch parties, even though they live in a city or state predominantly opposite their beliefs.
“As Americans, and I mean all people, whether you’re black or brown or white, you’re American.”
“We are individuals. That’s what being American is!..That is the American dream,” couple said.
It doesn’t matter where a person comes from. It doesn’t matter what continent they come from. Doesn’t matter what race, we want people to come here. We want people to be Americans. We all come from some place else. But this United States of America is our home, it’s precious to us, and all people are welcomed here, but we have to be Americans. We are Americans first.
Surveys still portray Illinois as a solid blue state. In the end, freedom is a fundamental right that Americans are not afraid of standing up for.
