Kamala Harris’s Candidacy Underscores Growing Political Influence of Indian-American Voters

During an October evening event on New York City’s Upper East Side, hundreds of prominent Indian Americans, including Bollywood actors and tech CEOs, gathered at the luxurious hotel The Pierre. Attendees, adorned in elaborate attire and substantial jewelry, socialized over drinks to commemorate the Hindu festival of lights. Although the invitation specified a Diwali celebration, the gathering was animated by the Indian-American community’s recent political achievement: Kamala Harris’s emergence as the first US presidential candidate of South Asian descent to head a major party’s ticket. Jessel Taank, the initial Indian cast member on Bravo’s reality show, The Real Housewives of New York City, conveyed to the BBC at the All That Glitters Diwali Ball, “This time around is so unique because we actually have someone we can relate to that hopefully has our best interests at heart.” Reshma Saujani, CEO of Girls Who Code and the first Indian-American woman to seek election to US Congress in 2010, further stated, “You cannot be what you cannot see,” noting that numerous South Asian girls identify with Harris. Harris faces the task of harnessing this excitement within a rapidly expanding immigrant demographic that has expanded beyond established South Asian centers such as California and New York into swing states like Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Both Harris and her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, have intensified their campaigns to attract Indian Americans, who represent the largest and most politically engaged segment of Asian American voters. This intensified outreach occurs in a closely contested election where any demographic edge could influence the final result. In 2020, Harris made history as the first individual of Indian heritage, as well as the first woman and Black person, to be elected vice-president. However, the 2024 election—and her unexpected candidacy—marks the culmination of the Indian-American community’s transformation into a significant political power over the past ten years. Beyond Harris, this presidential election cycle has also seen the emergence of other Indian Americans, such as Usha Vance, who is married to Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance. During the Republican primary, Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley, both of whom contested Trump for the nomination, gained public recognition. In addition to the visibility of national Indian-American personalities, the community’s political involvement has also intensified. According to AAPI Data, a research organization that gathers information on Asian American communities, Indian Americans recorded the highest voter turnout among Asian Americans in the previous two presidential elections, surpassing white voters. In 2020, 71% of eligible Indian Americans cast their ballots, representing a 9% rise from 2016. Karthick Ramakrishnan, co-founder of AAPI Data, anticipates this trend will persist in November, stating his belief that Harris’s candidacy could elevate South Asian voter turnout to 75% among those eligible to vote. He remarked, “While having the first ever person of South Asian origin as vice-president of the United States was important to many South Asian voters, it’s a much bigger deal to have someone from one’s background in the highest office in the land.” A 2024 AAPI Data voter survey indicates that more than half of Indian-American voters (55%) identify as Democrat, in contrast to 26% who identify as Republican. Although Democrats still hold a majority, the proportion of Indian Americans favoring the Democratic party has been decreasing since 2020. A survey published Sunday by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and YouGov revealed that 61% of registered Indian-American voters planned to support Harris, while 32% intended to vote for Trump. Despite the community’s continued preference for the Democratic party, the recent poll indicated a “modest drift” towards Trump and Republicans. Researchers attribute this shift to Indian-American men, especially younger men born in the US. The identical survey also determined that over 60% of Indian-American women planned to vote for Harris, whereas approximately 50% of Indian-American men stated their intention to vote for Trump. Anju Sawni, a doctor practicing in Flint, Michigan, stated that Harris’s gender and dedication to reproductive rights are stronger motivators for her vote than the vice-president’s heritage. Ms Sawni commented, “I am so worried for my patients. We’ve already gone backwards in our health care in this country, particularly for choices, by taking away women’s rights when it comes to terminating pregnancies.” Kirtan Patel, a Democrat and attorney in Atlanta, Georgia, remarked that Harris has “added fuel to the fire,” but noted that the Indian-American community in the crucial swing state is an expanding influence. He mentioned knowing several Indian Americans who typically vote Republican but are now planning to vote for Democrats due to their disapproval of Trump. He stated, “Character matters. I feel like deep down character is where the turning is happening.” Nevertheless, even within the diverse Indian-American community, which encompasses various religions, languages, castes, and economic statuses, questions persist regarding Harris’s racial identity and the depth of her connection to India, given her parents were born in India and Jamaica. Trump, who visited India as president in 2020, cultivated a strong relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a connection that resonated with Modi’s Hindu nationalist base. Some express concern that Harris may not prioritize a robust US-India relationship. Priti Pandya-Patel, a New Jersey-based healthcare professional and chairwoman of the South Asian Coalition, a group established for Republicans to engage with the South Asian community, commented, “Some people talked about the relationships between India and the US, and that Trump really made a lot of effort with the relationship.” She added, “Kamala Harris – I don’t even think that she’s ever even visited India in her years as vice-president.” President Joe Biden has sought to uphold strong ties with India as part of his administration’s strategy to counteract China, including hosting the prime minister for an uncommon State Dinner in June 2023. Harris also hosted a luncheon for Modi alongside Secretary of State Antony Blinken during that visit. She has endeavored to attract Indian-American voters by organizing cultural events, engaging with Indian-American business leaders, and conducting phone-banking and canvassing among Indian Americans in their native languages. Furthermore, Harris has welcomed numerous Indian Americans to her official residence for an annual Diwali celebration. According to Shalabh Shalli Kumar, chairman of the Hindu Coalition of the Republican National Committee, the Trump campaign has attempted to engage Indian-American voters via door-to-door campaigning and earned media coverage in Indian publications. Republicans have also aimed to attract the South Asian community in recent years by addressing concerns related to crime, education, and the economy, topics that are significant to some Asian Americans. Ms Pandya-Patel identified illegal immigration as a primary concern, stating her belief that the vice-president should have addressed the matter during the past four years. Trump and his supporters have consistently criticized Harris and the Biden administration regarding immigration. She remarked, “I came here in the 1970s. My dad came legally and worked really hard to get to where he is. I just feel that all these people who came legally in the 60s and 70s and worked their way up, are being punished or not rewarded.” However, the South Asian vote is not guaranteed for either candidate. Mr Kumar, from the Hindu Coalition of the Republican National Committee, indicated that the Trump campaign has not sufficiently leveraged the Indian vote in swing states this cycle, unlike four years prior. He suggested that Democrats have been more effective in engaging the community this election. Mr Ramakrishnan asserts that Harris’s popularity among South Asians, particularly Indian Americans, especially within their expanding populations in crucial swing states such as Georgia and North Carolina, could be decisive in November. He informed the BBC, “The fact that the South Asian population is tilting fairly heavily towards Harris and has a higher voter turnout, will very likely be enough to tip the scales, of how close the vote will be.”