Chicago City Wire

Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, said that Chicago's Chinatown has shifted toward becoming a political swing area. He attributed this trend to concerns about nearby crime. The statement was made on X.

"Wow, Chinatown in Chicago becomes a political swing area," said Cortes. "From D+52% to only D+6% Perhaps because it is adjacent to some really dangerous parts of the city? Traditional Dem constituencies flee the radicalized Dems, in droves..."

Asian American voting patterns in cities like Chicago have changed significantly over the past three decades. According to Wikipedia, while 55% of Asian Americans supported Republicans in 1992, by 2020, 63% supported Democrats. This shift has been especially pronounced among Chinese and Indian Americans in urban centers, though some Southeast Asian communities remain more conservative.

Steve Cortes, Founder for League of American Workers | Facebook

Voting data from Armour Square, the Chicago neighborhood that includes Chinatown, shows consistent Democratic support over the past decade. Wikipedia reports that 81% of voters in this precinct supported Barack Obama in 2012, while 77% voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016. These trends indicate sustained Democratic dominance in the area through multiple election cycles.

Crime statistics for Chicago’s Chinatown area show elevated levels compared to national averages. According to Niche, the neighborhood reports roughly 13 murders per 100,000 residents—more than double the national rate of 6.1—and robbery rates around 834 per 100,000, compared to a national average of 135.5. These figures reflect ongoing safety concerns in the surrounding community.

Cortes is also a senior political advisor to CatholicVote and a former senior advisor to President Trump and JD Vance. He is known as a commentator for Fox News and CNN and regularly releases documentaries and columns at cortesinvestigates.com.

The League of American Workers was founded in 2022 by Cortes to advocate for conservative, pro-worker economic reforms. According to the group’s official website, its mission is to reverse decades of wage stagnation and restore working-class influence through America First policies, data-driven messaging, and labor-centric economic nationalism.