Press Release

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) today released preliminary results of its nonpartisan exit poll of more than 250 Asian American voters in the Nov. 16, 2019 gubernatorial election in Louisiana. Asian Americans, primarily Vietnamese Americans, strongly favored the Republican challenger, Eddie Rispone, in this extremely close race and also expressed support for stricter gun control laws. Incumbent Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards was re-elected with 51% of the vote.

When asked how they would vote if the presidential election were held on Saturday, Asian American voters polled favored Donald Trump, followed by Joe Biden.

AALDEF Democracy Program Director Jerry Vattamala said: “Most Vietnamese American voters in New Orleans were registered Republicans, supported Donald Trump, and generally did not favor the impeachment inquiry. However, these Asian American voters strongly supported stricter gun control laws.”

The following is a preliminary breakdown of AALDEF exit poll results in Louisiana:

Party Affiliation:
Democrat: 14%, Republican: 68%, Not Enrolled: 14%, Other Party: 4%

Vote for Governor:
John Bel Edwards: 36%, Eddie Rispone: 63%, Did not vote: 1%

Vote for President if Election Were Today:
Donald Trump: 75%, Joe Biden: 7%, Other Republican: 6%, Bernie Sanders: 3%, Elizabeth Warren: 2%, Other Democrat: 2%, Other Party/Independent: 2%, Andrew Yang: 1%, Pete Buttigieg: 1%, Kamala Harris: 1%, Cory Booker: 0%, Beto O’Rourke: 0%,

In general, do you support stricter gun control laws?
Strongly Support: 61%, Support: 20%, Don’t Know: 9%, Oppose: 4%, Strongly Oppose: 6%

Do you believe the U.S. House of Representatives should proceed with an impeachment inquiry of President Trump?

Yes: 14%, No: 71%, Don’t Know: 14%

Asian American voters were provided with Vietnamese interpreters at all of the poll sites in New Orleans monitored by AALDEF volunteers. AALDEF commends the elections officials for providing much-needed language assistance to limited English proficient voters. The exit poll provides integral data regarding language assistance needs and has supported AALDEF"s advocacy for voluntary language assistance at targeted poll sites across the country, including in New Orleans.

Poll sites in AALDEF’s exit poll were selected based on voter registration files, census data, interviews with local election officials and community leaders, and a history of voting problems. Attorneys and community volunteers were stationed at poll sites throughout the day, generally between 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. Surveys were written in English and Vietnamese, and volunteers were conversant in Asian languages and dialects. Additional exit poll results regarding Asian ethnic groups, most important issues influencing their votes, and opinions on comprehensive immigration reform and climate change will be released soon.

Special thanks to the Asian American Exit Poll co-sponsors:

Chinese Progressive Association - Boston
Greater Boston Legal Services - Asian Outreach Unit
OCA - Greater Houston
National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA)
National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC)
SEAMAAC – Philadelphia
Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association (VAYLA) – New Orleans

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For more information, contact:
Jerry Vattamala
Democracy Program Director
jvattamala@aaldef.org
212.966.5932 x209

Margaret Fung
Executive Director
mfung@aaldef.org
212.966.5932 X201