As the U.S. presidential election heads toward a close finish, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris is seeing robust support from the Indian-American community across several battleground states. For many Indian Americans, Harris's candidacy is historic, representing a significant step forward for the community in American political affairs.
If victorious, Harris would be the first individual of Indian descent to hold the presidency in U.S. history, a milestone symbolizing the community's increasing political influence. Since her Democratic nomination in August, Indian-American and South Asian groups have actively mobilized support for Harris, organizing fundraising efforts and other campaign initiatives.
The Indian-American population in the U.S. stands at approximately 5.2 million, with around 2.3 million eligible to vote. According to a 2024 survey by the AAPI research organization, 55% of Indian-American voters identify as Democrats, while 26% lean Republican.
Harris’s campaign is strategically focused on engaging this voter base, especially in swing states like Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, as Indian Americans expand beyond traditional hubs in California and New York. Meanwhile, her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, is also making efforts to attract the Indian-American vote, understanding that any demographic edge could prove decisive.
Harris, who broke barriers in 2020 as the first woman and person of Indian and African descent to become vice president, embodies a decade of rising political participation among Indian Americans. This election cycle also saw the prominence of other Indian-American figures, including Usha Vance, wife of Trump’s running mate JD Vance, and Republican primary candidates Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley.
Recent surveys reflect a lean toward Harris, with a Carnegie Endowment poll showing 61% of Indian-American voters supporting her, compared to 32% for Trump. Within this demographic, 67% of Indian-American women support Harris, while 39% of men say they plan to vote for Trump.
With just a week until Election Day, polls show a near tie between Harris and Trump. In a recent CNN poll, each candidate held 47% of likely voter support. Similarly, a New York Times/Siena College poll indicated both candidates at 48%, while 4% of voters remained undecided.
In the key issue of economic management, a Financial Times and University of Michigan poll found 44% of respondents trusting Trump over Harris, who garnered 43% in this area.
To clinch the presidency, a candidate must win 270 of the 538 electoral votes. As Election Day approaches, all eyes are on seven pivotal swing states: Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Nevada.
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