Today’s issue puts Asian American voters in Texas at the forefront. Why? Because as the numbers suggest, their turnout could be consequential in a tight U.S. Senate race. Down the ballot, a GOP House nominee’s supposed joke about shelter kittens and Chinese restaurants has resurfaced … as more of those voters identify as Republicans.
Congressional Democrats point to stereotyping, too, in a letter asking whether the FBI is investigating an alleged Hindu temple plot as a hate crime. Motive is also at issue in a New York subway attack on a 90-year-old former professor, but police have cited none so far.
Featured
Asian American Texans could sway a tight Senate race, but nearly half sat out 2024
In October polls of Texas’ U.S. Senate race, Democrat James Talarico led Republican Ken Paxton by 1.5 points on average, and three showed a tie. Asian Americans were about 5% of the state’s voters in 2024.
However, our analysis of those who stayed home finds a gap that could blunt the community’s influence.
What else we’re tracking
Chinese restaurants could take shelter kittens, Texas GOP candidate says
A racist remark of Brandon Herrera, the Republican nominee for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, resurfaced during early voting. His Democrat rival says he “offers nothing but sick and perverted video content.”
Kash Patel faces deadline on Hindu temple plot as hate crime question lingers
U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi was inside an Illinois Hindu temple with his parents when a 19-year-old allegedly tried to shoot a man outside. He and fellow Democrats want FBI Director Kash Patel to answer critical questions by Thursday.
90-year-old Asian man sent ‘flying’ in Manhattan subway attack
C.G. Wang, a 90-year-old former professor who taught astrophysics, was commuting when a man allegedly shoved him off a Manhattan subway train on Oct. 6. Police have released surveillance images of his attacker.
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The Rebel Yellow is supported in part by funding from The Asian American Foundation (TAAF). Funders do not influence story selection, reporting, or editorial decisions. All editorial content is independently produced by The Rebel Yellow team.