Asian American group: Election mailer misleads to discourage voters

An Asian American voter in Cary shared with WRAL News a mailer she received that she believes is intended to mislead.

The mailer shows claims about racial discrimination against white and Asian Americans. A fake "now hiring" ad says you "must be Black or Latinx" and "whites and Asians need not apply."

“It’s not something you expect to find in your mailbox,” Su Cho said. “It was shocking to see that and the language, of course.”

Right-of-center nonprofit organization America First Legal Foundation is sending the mailers, which appear to target Asian American voters. The American First Legal Foundation is led by Stephen Miller, who served as a senior advisor to former President Donald Trump from 2017-2021.

On Wednesday, WRAL News reached out to America Legal First to ask about the mailers but got no answer before 5 p.m.

Cho said she thought it was America Legal First’s attempt to influence her community.

“I recognized in that moment -- this is misinformation, disinformation and a very hateful form of disinformation,” Cho said.

Advocacy group North Carolina Asian Americans Together (NCAAT) believes Asians are getting targeted with lies meant to suppress their vote.

“That kind of messaging is isolating,” said NCAAT executive director Chavi Khanna Koneru. “It’s alienating.

“It’s not just about your vote not counting. It’s about your voice not mattering.”

Town of Morrisville council member Steve Rao echoed Koneru’s sentiments.

“It’s clear to me that this is based on affirmative action and implying that affirmative action negatively affects the Asian community,” Rao said.

Rao acknowledged how close some political races are between now and Nov. 8.

“Clearly, this was an attempt to divide the Asian community, which I think is really uncalled for,” Rao said.

NC Asian Americans Together holds event to get young voters to the polls

As of Tuesday, North Carolina has had more than 1.4 million early voters, of which 15,550 identify as Asian.

“We have the ability to decide the outcomes of elections, and I think that can make some people nervous,” Koneru said.

Cho is urging her community to send a message by casting their ballots.

“I am going to make sure I cast my vote and just really want to encourage other folks in the Asian community to go out there and have their voices be heard,” Cho said.