For Vice President Kamala Harris, the Indian-American vote ought to have been a slam dunk. Her Indian heritage appeared like a pure bridge to a group with traditionally robust Democratic ties. However this election revealed a stunning shift in Indian-American loyalties—a change that finally contributed to a sweeping victory for former President Donald Trump. The story of Indian-Individuals displays what’s occurring throughout America: a response to what many see as a Democratic concentrate on progressive social agendas over sensible issues like financial stability, nationwide safety, and household values.
A current Carnegie Endowment survey starkly illustrates this changing allegiance. From 2020 to 2024, the percentage of Indian-Americans identifying as Democrats dropped from 56% to just 47%, while support for Trump surged from 22% to 31%. This shift is particularly pronounced among younger Indian-American men, who might have been expected to rally around Harris’s candidacy. Instead, they’re leading a generational realignment, pushing back against Democratic policies they feel have drifted from core priorities that resonate with them.
Indian-Americans, like many across the US, are increasingly uneasy with what they perceive as the Democratic Party’s fixation on progressive social issues over pragmatic, results-oriented policies. Their focus appears to prioritise symbolic inclusivity over pressing issues like economic growth, national security, and family cohesion. For a community rooted in hard work, education, and family unity, this shift feels like a departure from the values that have been central to their success in America.
Adding to this sense of disconnect is Harris’s approach to her heritage. Unlike candidates like Vivek Ramaswamy, who has embraced his Hindu identity, or Vice President designate JD Vance, a devout Christian whose wife is proudly Hindu, Harris has often distanced herself from the Indian-American community and her mother’s religion. Many Indian-Americans, who had hoped for a deeper cultural connection from someone with shared roots, have been disappointed. Harris’s approach, some feel, lacks the genuine cultural pride expressed by leaders like Ramaswamy and Vance’s wife, coming across instead as shallow symbolism.
As legal immigrants who followed a rigorous process, Indian-Americans generally support merit-based immigration but are wary of what they see as the Democratic Party’s lenient stance on illegal immigration. Many waited years—sometimes decades—to gain legal status and are troubled by seeing people crossing the border illegally, receiving refuge, social benefits, and work permits. Additionally, the Democrats have repeatedly leveraged the standing of expert employees caught within the prolonged immigration backlog to push for citizenship pathways for undocumented immigrants. This frustration is shared by many Individuals who consider in a good, lawful course of and really feel that the present strategy undermines these rules.
Additional alienating Indian-Individuals is the Biden administration’s alignment with liberal Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on points associated to Khalistani separatists. For Indian-Individuals with shut ties to India, the US administration’s stance on teams essential of India’s sovereignty—teams which have been linked to airline bombings and 1000’s of killings—appears like a betrayal of shared values. This sentiment echoes amongst Individuals who see the Democrats as missing resolve on international safety points. Nationwide safety isn’t theoretical for Indian-Individuals with recollections of terrorist assaults in India, nor for Individuals who vividly recall 9/11.
Just like the broader American citizens, Indian-Individuals are pragmatic voters who worth sensible options over divisive rhetoric. The Democratic Occasion’s emphasis on Range, Fairness, and Inclusion (DEI) insurance policies, whereas well-intentioned, has raised issues inside the group. For a lot of Indian-Individuals, DEI is seen as sidelining important points like financial alternative, public security, and schooling in favour of identity-focused initiatives. This sentiment isn’t distinctive to Indian-Individuals; Individuals throughout the nation really feel disillusioned by a social agenda that appears to prioritise identification over benefit and sensible competence.
Almost each Indian-American I do know, particularly these in expertise, has been rethinking their political stance due to these shifting priorities. Personally, I’ve all the time voted Democrat, and when Harris was nominated, I even tweeted, “With a Black/Indian girl as a possible president, all I can say is that she had me at good day.” However the sentiment didn’t final, and I couldn’t convey myself to assist Harris within the elections—as a result of I take into account patriotism, financial alternative, and private freedom to be greater than speaking factors—they’re core values. We would like leaders who champion these values in motion, not simply phrases.
With a inhabitants of over 4.8 million and concentrations in key battleground states, Indian-Individuals are an more and more influential constituency in future elections. Each events have recognised this, ramping up their outreach. However the Democratic Occasion now faces a essential problem: reconnecting with a group that was as soon as a bedrock of assist. Token illustration gained’t suffice; Indian-Individuals, like all Individuals, demand leaders who will deal with their actual, on a regular basis issues.
(Vivek Wadhwa is CEO, Vionix Biosciences.The views expressed are private)
