Asian communities are ideologically moderate in general, with political affiliations evenly divided and differing across ethnic and generational lines.
Asian Americans are the fastest-growing voter group in the United States, with eligible voters increasing by 15% (about 2 million people) between 2020 and 2024. In 2024, they made up nearly 10% of voters in Harris County and 20% in Fort Bend County. Their political views are diverse, shaped by varied socioeconomic backgrounds, immigration histories and religious affiliations.
This brief examines partisan affiliation and political attitudes based on a survey of more than 2,100 Asian residents across Brazoria, Fort Bend, Harris and Montgomery counties conducted between November 2024 and February 2025. It is part of a series highlighting findings from the Asian American Community Study, a multiyear initiative exploring the diverse experiences, attitudes and beliefs of this dynamic and fast-growing population group in the Houston region.
Key findings
- Asian communities tended to be ideologically moderate, with 62% identifying themselves as slightly liberal, moderate or slightly conservative.
- About 20% more closely identified as liberal or conservative.
- Political identities were evenly split (31% Republican, 30% Democrat and 31% independent) and shaped by ethnic and generational differences.
- Identifying as a Republican was most common among Vietnamese (45%) and Filipino (42%) residents.
- Identifying as a Democrat was most common among Japanese (42%) and Filipino (38%) residents.
- Identifying as an independent was most common among Chinese/Taiwanese and Pakistani residents (47%).
- Second-generation Asian residents were more likely to identify as Democrats and less likely to identify as independents than first-generation residents.
- On social issues, Asian residents generally expressed progressive views, with variation across ethnicities.
- Asian residents overall supported abortion rights, immigration, LGBTQ+ rights and regulated gun ownership, but majorities also supported gun rights and the idea of a border wall.
- Asian residents overall supported addressing income inequality and were concerned about climate change.
- On most social issues, Asian ethnicity predicted how a person felt about the issue, even after accounting for the person’s political party affiliation and ideology.
Support for this community project is made possible by a generous donation from Anne and Albert Chao through the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation.
Suggested citation: Valikhanova, A., Bao, K. Y., & Potter, D. (2026). Asian American Community Study: Political and social attitudes in the Greater Houston area. Houston, TX: Houston Population Research Center, Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Rice University. DOI: doi.org/10.25611/5AFR-JF44
