Indian Americans Voted For Trump. Now GOP’s Anti-Indian Rhetoric Is A Problem
WASHINGTON, DC- A growing number of Indian American voters who backed Republicans in 2024 are signaling they may switch sides in the November 3 midterm elections, citing a rise in anti-Indian rhetoric within the conservative movement, according to polling and community leaders.
A recent survey commissioned by advocacy group Indian American Impact found that a quarter of Indian Americans who voted for President Donald Trump in 2024 planned to vote for Democrats in the midterms, US media reported. Democrats led Republicans among likely voters, with about 66 per cent supporting Democrats, while nearly two-thirds of independent South Asian voters remained undecided.
“There are a large chunk of [Indian American] voters who are, for lack of a better word, having buyers remorse,” said Chintan Patel, executive director of Indian American Impact. “That’s something that is building across the community as we’re talking about hate and discrimination.”
The poll found that, like other voters, Indian Americans ranked the cost of living and healthcare among their top concerns.
A February survey by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace found that seven in 10 Indian Americans disapproved of Trump’s performance during his second term. However, only 46 per cent identified as Democrats, down from 2020, The Verge reported. About one-third of Indian Americans supported Trump in 2024.
Anang Mittal, a longtime conservative strategist who previously worked for Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, said Republican politicians appeared to believe they could tolerate anti-Indian remarks because the community was relatively small. An estimated 5.2 million Indian Americans live in the United States, accounting for just over 1.5 per cent of the population.
“They decided there’s no price to be paid when it comes to engaging in language that treats Indian immigrants as outsiders and not compatible with American culture,” Mittal said.
In Texas, home to the country’s most expensive Senate race, community leaders said some Indian American voters were considering a shift towards Democrats. Rishi Bhutada, a Houston businessman and board member of the Hindu American Foundation, said some voters planned to vote Democratic across the ballot to send a message to Republicans.
“I’ve seen a few people who say they’re just going to vote Democrat straight down the ballot, to send a message to the Republican Party that they’re not going to tolerate it,” Bhutada said.
The concerns have been fueled by public remarks and commentary targeting Indians and South Asians. Bo French, the Republican candidate for Texas Railroad Commissioner, drew criticism for a social media post about South Asian fans at a University of Texas football game. Texas Governor Greg Abbott distanced himself from the remarks, saying they were “not my message”. Conservative commentator Chris Rufo also hosted a podcast episode titled “The Indian Question.”
Community leaders have also pointed to recent incidents that have heightened concerns about the safety of Indian American and South Asian communities, including an alleged plot to attack a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, and the stabbing of Sikh truck driver Gurvinder Singh in Wyoming. The incidents have added to unease within the community, although the account does not establish that either was motivated by anti-Indian sentiment.
“We could have been talking about a massive tragedy,” Patel said, referring to the Illinois case.
The potential political shift could matter in closely contested races. Congressional districts with significant Indian American populations include New Jersey’s 7th District and Pennsylvania’s 1st District, both considered Democratic pickup opportunities, as well as areas in the battleground states of Georgia and Michigan, US media reported. (IANS)
