Two ethnic groups with growing power (Filipinos and Vietnamese) are breaking bad for Democrats in San Diego, a new report reveals this week . Figures in the above chart are from a novel SD Registrar of Voters study, combining requests for foreign-language ballot materials with other ethnic identifiers. The high impact of Fil-Am voters in the South Bay, and Mira Mesa, makes them critical to (a) Supervisor Greg Cox’s re-election bid in District 1, and (b) filling the new “9th district” San Diego Council seat. Republicans not only lead with both of these rising powers, but their Democratic rivals are now stuck back in 3rd place, behind Non-partisan / Independent voters !
You hadn’t heard ab0ut this? MSM full of stories about the GOP in a fatal spiral, unable to expand their voter base? You’ve been reading those kind of stories for a decade? Gosh, the MSM must have forgotten to mention the Vietnamese-Americans and the Filipino-Americans. Yeah, that’s the ticket, it was just a Decade of Forgetfulness!
…..….Let’s Look at the Geography
About 80% of Vietnamese voters are in the City of San Diego, with about half living north of Interstate 8, and half to the south. Most live in congressional seat now held by Susan Davis or Bob Filner, Democrats, but many can look forward to Brian Bilbray (R) being their new representative next year. Bilbray is likely to have a competitive contest, so Vietnamese-Americans will be vital to his prospects.
Fully one-third (13,614) of Filipino-American voters are in Greg Cox’s 1st Supervisorial district, and 7,487 of them within Chula Vista. They were a powerful force in making Shirley Horton (R), Chula Vista Mayor and then electing her a member of the State Assembly for 6 years.
Filipinos are also a major factor in Mira Mesa, and have hopes of filling the newly-created 9th district council seat in San Diego. They may also be important in Brian Bilbray’s future if the current State Redistricting Commission maps are finalized. They put Mira Mesa into a north-San Diego city district Bilbray previously represented from 1994 to 2000. Their Republican trend is a good sign for Rep. Bilbray.
In closing, a Hat Tip to Rostra’s famous Hydrilla Guerrillas for ferreting out this interesting information.