Presidential Town Hall

Building Momentum: Our Community. Our Vote. Our Future.

Since 2008, the Presidential Town Hall has served as a crucial national forum for inviting presidential candidates to engage directly with the AAPI community. By providing a dedicated space for candidates to address AAPI community members, leaders, and organizers face-to-face, the town hall offers one of the rare opportunities for this impactful growing electorate to hear directly from those vying for the nation’s highest office. This event ensures that AAPI issues are brought to the forefront of campaigns and media attention, pushing candidates to address the concerns and priorities that matter most to the AAPI population.

Watch our 2024 Town Hall Live Stream on July 13, 3-5pm ET:

What our Presidential Town Halls Accomplished

In 2024, the Presidential Town Hall was held in the Pennsylvania Convention Center- Philadelphia on July 13, 2024, drawing a crowd of 1200 in attendance for the in person event, as well as many more who watched through our live stream. Speakers included Vice President Kamala Harris, members of congress and AAPI community leaders, organizers and students. To view the livestream, click the video above.

To view and purchase professional photos from the 2024 Town Hall, click here.

A national audience of 1.1 million viewers watched the 2020 Presidential Town Hall that was streamed live online and on broadcast TV. The event streamed online via APIAVote’s Facebook page (click link to watch), on NBCNews.comNBC Asian America and on NBC News’ Facebook and Twitter accounts, on the PBS Newshour’s Facebook, and the WORLD Channel’s Facebook Live account.

  • To see the 2016 Presidential Town Hall videos, click here
  • To see the 2012 Presidential Town Hall Photos, click here
  • To see the 2008 Presidential Town Hall videos, click here

AAPI voters surprised most political observers by increasing their turnout to a historic 60% and was followed up in 2022 with 3.6 million AAPIs voting, of which 6.2% were first time voters, more than double the rate of all first time voters (3.5%).

College youth Ambassadors training and organizing at the Town Hall which contributed to student turnout increasing by 17% between the 2016 and 2020 election cycles; the largest gain out of any racial group amongst their peers.

See highlights of our 2020 Presidential Town Hall and National AAPI Leadership Summit here.

Presidential Town Hall Highlights

National AAPI Leadership Summit

AAPI community leaders and organizers will converge on July 11-12 right before the Presidential Town Hall for APIAVote’s 2024 National AAPI Leadership Summit

This two-day event will take place at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown and arm attendees with the knowledge and connections to mobilize Asian American and Pacific Islander communities nationwide for the 2024 elections. 

Learn more and register for the National AAPI Leadership Summit, as well as other events held concurrently at this time:

Hotel Booking

Rooms at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown are sold out for these dates. Please click below for our special room rate at Residence Inn Philadelphia Center City, a 13 minute walk from the Sheraton.

How to Participate in the Presidential Town Hall:

Watch Party

Even though you will not be able to attend the Town Hall in person, you can still participate! Visit the Watch Party page to get more info on how you can host your own watch party, and sign up to submit a question that can be asked of either candidate!

Promotional Material

Help us spread the word by sharing information about these events to your networks! We have provided this social media toolkit to do just that.

Become a Sponsor

Become a sponsor of our 2024 Presidential Town Hall and National AAPI Leadership Summit. Your sponsorship will directly bolster our efforts to mobilize record AAPI voter turnout and amplify the diverse voices that can no longer be ignored on the national stage. If you are interested in sponsoring, please reach out to Kevin Hirano at khirano@apiavote.org.

Media Sign-on

APIAVote encourages all Media to officially partner with us for our Presidential Town Hall to ensure you can attend and are provided what you need. We hope you can encourage your viewers and followers to also tune in and engage in the conversation in-person or online.

Thank you to our Sponsors

Host Committee Organizations

Supporting Organizations

National
The Center for Asian Pacific American Women (CAPAW)
Filipina Women’s Network
National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association
National Asian Pacific American Caucus of State Legislators (NAPACSL)
National Coalition For Asian Pacific American Community Development (CAPACD)
National Tongan American Society
Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC)
Public Wise
Southeast Asian Freedom Network
Voice of Vietnamese Americans
Compassion & Choices

CA
LEAD Filipino
Orange County Asian American Initiative
Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA)
The Progressive Vietnamese American Organization (PIVOT)
Vietnamese American Roundtable

GA
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Atlanta

IA
Iowa Asian Alliance

MI
Rising Voices
APIAVOTE-MI

MO
Missouri Asian American Youth Foundation

MN
Asian American Organizing Project
Asian American Unity Coalition

NC
North Carolina Asian Americans Together (NCAAT)

NJ
AAPI New Jersey

NM
New Mexico Asian Family Center

OH
OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates
Greater Cleveland Chapter

PA
Asian Americans United
Woori Center
AAPI PA Power Caucus
AREAA Greater Philadelphia
Asian American Community Fund of PA
Asian Americans United
ChineseinUS
Korean American Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
Metro Chinese Weekly
PA Youth Vote
Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation (Jaisohn Center)
SEAMAAC
United Voice for Philadelphia

TX
Rise AAPI

WA
Asian Counseling and Referral Service