Asian American voters could play a key role in November's election, especially in swing states

The Harris campaign is boosting its efforts to reach Asian American voters in North Carolina and several other key swing states with a new ad that spotlights the vice president's personal story , Axios' Shawna Chen writes.

Why it matters: Advocates on both sides of the political spectrum say the demographic could play a key role come November, especially in swing states with tight margins .

• Asian Americans recorded the largest registration increase of any racial group nationwide from January to June compared with the same period in 2020.

In North Carolina, Asian Americans represent around 4% of the state's population, but they're growing quickly, WUNC reported . Between 2010 and 2020, the state's Asian American population grew by 68% to 450,000 people.

• Most of the state's Asian American population lives in urban counties, per Carolina Demography. Wake County, in particular, has seen its Indian population grow significantly , and the county elected state Sen. Jay Chaudhuri as the first person of South Asian descent in the N.C. General Assembly in 2016.
• In Orange and Durham counties, people of Chinese origin make up the majority of the Asian American population, according to Carolina Demography .

What they're saying: Over the last eight years, the state's Asian American community has organized a "robust and sophisticated Get Out the Vote effort," including through grassroots organizations and a record number of Asian American elected officials, Chaudhuri told Axios.

• "I really believe all these factors will fuel a record turnout for Asian American voters in North Carolina up and down the ballot."

The big picture: Engagement with Asian Americans, the nation's fastest-growing voting bloc , has often been an afterthought for major political parties — which had never had an Asian American presidential nominee before Harris.

• The group has historically voted Democrat , but a 2021 analysis found that the GOP made gains with AAPI voters in battleground states in both 2016 and 2020.

Yes, but: AAPI is an umbrella and includes many languages and diverse cultures. Canvassing the communities requires time and investment.

Driving the news: The TV and digital ad " My Mother " pays tribute to Shyamala Gopalan Harris, a breast cancer researcher who immigrated from India at 19 and raised Kamala Harris and her sister as a single mom.