The analysis is based on an online survey conducted from September 18 to October 15. With over 5.2 million people of Indian origin living in the U.S., the survey found that 61 percent of Indian-Americans said they would vote for Kamala Harris.
Meanwhile, 32 percent of Indian-Americans expressed support for Donald Trump, with a slight increase in his voter base noted. The survey also highlights that 67 percent of Indian-American women intend to vote for Kamala Harris, compared to 53 percent of men who plan to do the same. On the other hand, 22 percent of Indian-American women are inclined to vote for Trump, while 39 percent of men said they plan to support him.
Additionally, another survey indicates that American voters are concerned about the potential for political violence in the presidential election, possible attempts to overturn election results.
Efforts to court Indian Americans, the largest and most politically active group
Both Kamala Harris and her Republican challenger Donald Trump are intensifying their outreach to Indian Americans, the largest and most politically engaged group among Asian American voters.
Harris, who made history in 2020 as the first person of Indian descent, as well as the first woman and Black person, to be elected vice president, now returns to the 2024 race, where her candidacy highlights the emergence of Indian Americans as a significant political force over the past decade.
This election cycle has also brought other prominent Indian Americans into the spotlight, including Usha Vance, wife of Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance. During the Republican primary, Indian-American candidates like Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley also gained attention as they challenged Trump for the nomination.
Indian Americans saw the highest voter turnout
Alongside the prominence of national Indian-American figures, the community’s political engagement has deepened, too. Indian Americans saw the highest voter turnout among Asian Americans in the last two presidential elections, compared with white voters, according to research firm AAPI Data, an organisation that collects data about Asian American communities. In 2020, 71% of Indian Americans that were eligible to vote did, a 9% increase from 2016.
Trump attacks Kamala Harris
Former President Donald Trump, speaking in Pennsylvania, criticized Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming that her election would lead to World War III. He argued that she would be ineffective in dealing with global leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump vowed to prevent a third world war, asserting that the country has never been this close to such a conflict. During his campaign, he also met with a group of Muslims in Detroit, contending that he deserves the support of Muslim voters because he would work to end conflicts and bring peace to the Middle East.
