Indian-American Voter Preferences in 2024 Elections
Survey Insights
A recent survey reveals that 60% of Indian-American voters, who are US citizens, plan to vote for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, while 30% support former President Donald Trump. This marks a shift towards the Republican Party compared to previous years.
Key States and Gender Gap
Milan Vaishnav, a senior fellow at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, highlights that Indian-Americans in swing states like Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, and Michigan could influence election outcomes. The survey also shows a gender gap, with more Indian-American women supporting Harris, while men, especially those under 40, lean towards Trump.
Reasons for Political Shift
Factors such as concerns over inflation, job opportunities, and perceptions of the Democratic Party’s stance on immigration and identity politics contribute to the shift. Indian-Americans are politically active, with a significant portion being recent immigrants or born after 2000.
Socioeconomic Influence
Indian-Americans are influential due to high socioeconomic performance, making them valuable to both political parties as donors and vote mobilizers. Key issues for voters include inflation, jobs, and abortion rights.
Political Representation
Currently, there are five Indian-American members of Congress, with potential for more. Kamala Harris, of Indian origin, is a presidential nominee, and Indian-Americans are increasingly present in political decision-making roles.
Doubts Revealed
Indian-American -: Indian-Americans are people who have their roots in India but live in America. They might have been born in India or have Indian parents or grandparents.
Kamala Harris -: Kamala Harris is the Vice President of the United States. She is the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first person of South Asian descent to hold this position.
Donald Trump -: Donald Trump is a businessman and was the 45th President of the United States. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Republicans -: The Republican Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States. It is often associated with conservative policies.
Swing states -: Swing states are states in the US where both major political parties have similar levels of support among voters. These states can ‘swing’ to either party in an election, making them very important.
Gender gap -: A gender gap refers to the difference in opinions or behaviors between men and women. In this context, it means more women are supporting Kamala Harris compared to men.
Inflation -: Inflation is when the prices of goods and services increase over time, which means you need more money to buy the same things.
Socioeconomic status -: Socioeconomic status is a measure of a person’s economic and social position compared to others. It often considers income, education, and occupation.
Congress -: Congress is the part of the United States government that makes laws. It has two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
