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CASL CEO Paul Luu Joins ABC7 Chicago for Election Day Coverage
CASL CEO Paul Luu joined ABC7 Chicago anchor Judy Hsu during Election Day coverage to discuss cost of living, language access at the polls, and the growth of Chicago’s Asian American community.
Civic Engagement & Advocacy
Outlet: ABC7 Chicago
Date: November 3, 2026
Type: Broadcast / TV
Link (3:06:34-3:12:12): https://www.youtube.com/live/WI3P6EL8a80?si=sd3ozAqtBwR5maU1&t=11193
On Election Day, CASL CEO Paul Luu joined ABC7 Chicago’s Judy Hsu to talk about what Asian American voters in Chicago are facing and how CASL is responding.
Cost of living. Nationally, nine in ten AAPI adults call the economy one of the most important issues facing the country, and eight in ten point to cost of living (AAPI Data/AP-NORC). Paul said Chicago matches that picture: groceries, gas, housing, and childcare are the biggest pressures, and immigrant families, working-class households, and seniors on fixed incomes are feeling it most. “Our community isn’t a monolith,” he said, noting that economic strain is often overlooked in households that are struggling.
Language access. Voters in Chicago could cast ballots in 12 languages this election, and Cook County provides Chinese, Hindi, Korean, and Japanese language assistance under federal law. Paul said language is still the concern he hears most, with bilingual poll worker shortages continuing, especially in the suburbs, and complex referendum language hard to follow even when translated. CASL helps clients and community members register, understand what’s on the ballot, and get to the polls, and is partnering with Allies United on get-out-the-vote efforts.
A growing community. Illinois’s AAPI population grew 31% over the last 10 years (APIA Vote). CASL’s Change InSight research found that over half of Chicago-area AAPI households live in poverty. Paul’s takeaway: the community is growing faster than the support systems meant to serve it.
