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The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) political action committee CAPA21 formally endorsed Hillary Clinton for president today, citing her track record on AAPI community issues and staff appointments. CAPA21 is the first major AAPI political action committee to make an endorsement in the 2016 presidential race.

"CAPA21's endorsement of Secretary Clinton is a recognition of her attention to AAPIs and AAPI issues in her campaign,” Glen S. Fukushima, CAPA21 co-founder and chair, told NBC News. “A major rally dedicated to AAPIs, her AAPI Leadership Council, her vision statement on AAPI prosperity, and her appointment of AAPIs to key campaign positions demonstrate that she values AAPI voters."

These 3 charts show why Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders are an important electorate https://t.co/YnJxUf1e3E pic.twitter.com/4syi1JrFNJ — AAPI Data (@AAPIData) January 20, 2016

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According to AAPIData and the Center for American Progress, the number of Asian American voters has doubled in the last 12 years, growing an average of 620,000 voters in each of the last three election cycles. The AAPI electorate also nearly equaled or outnumbered the margin of victories in three swing states during the last presidential election, according to AAPIData.

"Asian American voters in Nevada, Virginia, and Florida can determine the electoral outcome in those states.” Fukushima said. “Nevada is key with a significant Asian American, especially Filipino American, population, and the state's 'First in the West' presidential caucus."

CAPA21 is a national Asian American and Pacific Islander political action committee established in 2014 by Fukushima, Dale Minami, and others to invest in progressive candidates and AAPI voter-engagement projects. According to the organization, it is the successor of one of the first AAPI political action committees, the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans, which was originally founded in 1988.

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